The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Seme Area Command, said it intercepted unregistered pharmaceutical products worth N27.8 million on the Abidjan-Lagos corridor.
The Controller in charge of the Command, Mr. Dera Nandi, disclosed this on Wednesday during a news conference in Semé.
According to him, “On May 9, my men while conducting stop and search along Abidian-Lagos Corridor, intercepted a truck with registration number GL 6663 GH conveying unregistered pharmaceuticals.
“The truck was taken to the station at Seme for proper examination and upon conduct of examination, the following unregistered pharmaceutical products were discovered: MORPHINE SULFATE 100ml x 1076 bottles; AMODIAQUINE SUSPENSION 60ml x 94 bottles; VERMOX 500mg x 2970 packages x 1 sachet x 1 tablet; MEPACRINE TABLETS 100mg x 390 packets x 1000 tablets; CLOFENAC SR 100mg x 298 packets x 10 sachets x 10 tablets; LOSARTAIL POTASSIUM 50mg x 1485 packages x 2 sachets x 28 tablets and VIREST 400 ACICLOVIR tablets. B.P 400mg x 499 packages x 5 sachets x 5 tablets.
“The seized unregistered pharmaceutical products have a Duty Paid Value of N27, 861, 538.00 only.
“This seizure contravened both Nigeria Customs Service banning the importation of pharmaceutical products through the land border without approval and further contravening NAFDAC laws as they do not have NAFDAC registration numbers. Furthermore, five out of the seven seized pharmaceutical products have expired.
“The Command and indeed every Nigerian is worried about this particular seizure considering the dangerous use of morphine which is a derivate of opium. This drug can be deployed for illicit use to aid criminals.
“Let me reiterate our commitment to fight smuggling under any guise and also states that those trying our resolve will continue to meet their water-loo as we remain resolute at ensuring adequate surveillance of our borders.
“While we draw your attention to this development, recall that, on the 21st of April, 2023, the officer of the Command on a routine patrol along the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor intercepted a Ford Bus conveying Seven (7) large sacks containing five hundred and fifty-three (553) parcels and four suspects were also arrested in connection with the seizure,” he said.
Nnadi used the opportunity to hand over 553 parcels of cannabis sativa, seized by his men on April 21 to the officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Receiving the items, Abubakar Wada, the Unit Commander of the NDLEA Seme command, said the hard drugs would be investigated before destroying them.
Wada said the seizure would further reduce the consumption of hard drugs by the people in the country.
He commended the Seme Command of Customs for handing over the dangerous drugs to the command.
