Just weeks after the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) established a joint committee to implement the 2024 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at deepening regulatory collaboration, both agencies, in partnership with other security outfits, have recorded a major breakthrough. Sixteen (16) containers laden with illicit pharmaceutical products, valued at over ₦20.5 billion, were intercepted at the Port Harcourt II Area Command, Onne.
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, made this announcement during a press briefing held on Friday, 18 July 2025, at the Command’s headquarters in Onne, Rivers State. He credited the success to intelligence-driven enforcement and renewed synergy among national security and regulatory agencies.
“Our anti-smuggling operations are aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policy on border security, public health, and national safety. We remain committed to ensuring that Nigeria’s borders are never exploited by criminal elements,” the CGC declared.
According to Adeniyi, the smugglers employed sophisticated concealment tactics, attempting to disguise the illicit cargo as legitimate imports, including tomato paste, ceiling fans, and plumbing materials.
The seized items include:
1.3 million bottles of Codeine syrup (100ml each)
9.3 million tablets of Really Extra Diclofenac
12.6 million tablets of Royal Tramadol (225mg)
Other unregistered and dangerous pharmaceuticals, including Trodol, Hyergra, Bisoveu, and Bassuka.
“This seizure sends a strong message to criminal networks: the Nigeria Customs Service, in partnership with our enforcement counterparts, maintains zero tolerance for smuggling. We will bring the full weight of the law to bear on all perpetrators,” Adeniyi warned.
The intercepted containers were formally handed over to Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, for regulatory action in line with due process.
Professor Adeyeye, visibly concerned, commended the vigilance of Customs and its partner agencies, stressing the severe public health risks posed by the illegal consignment.
“Frankly, it is shocking. These products could destroy lives—Codeine, Tramadol, counterfeit painkillers. The fact that some were hidden in tomato paste reflects clear criminal intent. This isn’t business; it’s murder for profit,” she asserted.
She confirmed that all the seized pharmaceuticals will undergo comprehensive regulatory procedures, including laboratory testing, proper documentation, and destruction.
“NAFDAC is WHO-certified, with internationally accredited laboratories and well-trained professionals. These dangerous products will never reach the Nigerian market,” she assured.
Professor Adeyeye also warned importers of falsified medicines, branding them “merchants of death,” while reiterating that Nigeria will not serve as a dumping ground for substandard or unapproved pharmaceuticals.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of PH II Onne Command, Comptroller Muhammed Babandede, described the operation as brief but historic, underscoring the importance of institutional collaboration. He acknowledged the critical contributions of NDLEA, DSS, and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to the success of the operation.
“The seizure comprised eleven 40-foot containers of illicit medicines, four micro containers of bottled water, and one container of salt. This achievement is a testament to the power of collaboration, in line with the Service’s policy of unity through cooperation, consolidation, and innovation,” Babandede stated.
The Onne interception follows another major operation at Apapa Port last week, where 25 containers of substandard medical devices were impounded.
In closing, all agencies reaffirmed their joint commitment to intelligence-sharing, surveillance, and enforcement operations in line with national security priorities and global best practices.
