APAPA CUSTOMS SEIZES N6.81B WORTH OF EXPIRED DRUGS, CODEINE,CANNABIS
APAPA CUSTOMS SEIZES N6.81BN WORTH OF EXPIRED DRUGS, CODEINE, CANNABIS
By Babatunde Aremu
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the seizure of 13 containers of prohibited, expired, and falsely declared goods valued at over N6.81 billion at Apapa Port in Lagos. The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this while addressing journalists at the Apapa Command APMT Terminal in Lagos.
According to Adeniyi, the seizures were made following detailed scanning analysis and thorough physical examination by customs officers. Among the intercepted items were expired pharmaceutical products, including Mixagrip Cold Caplets, Ladinax tablets, chloroquine injections, and diclofenac tablets. Two other containers were found to contain large consignments of unregistered pharmaceutical products, including Hyegra 200 and Sildenafil Citrate.
The customs officers also uncovered a container carrying 800 cartons of codeine (TPL CSC) that had been deliberately concealed inside toilet flushing cisterns and sanitary ware. Another container was found to contain cartons of Artesunate 60 injections. Additionally, a container was loaded with restricted security equipment imported without the required End User Certificates, including bulletproof vests, helmets, walkie-talkies, and tactical torches.
Other seized items included expired food products, such as muffin cookie biscuits, Primo energy drinks, and tomato paste. The customs also intercepted 13 jumbo bags of Cannabis Sativa, popularly known as Colorado, weighing 347.57 kilograms, concealed inside a Toyota Sienna vehicle.
Adeniyi warned that the importation of expired drugs and controlled substances poses a serious threat to public health, while the concealment of codeine-based products reflects deliberate attempts to fuel substance abuse and undermine the healthcare system. He stressed that Apapa Port would no longer serve as a safe haven for smugglers or criminal networks attempting to disguise illegal cargo under legitimate trade documentation.
