The Apapa Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted unregistered pharmaceutical products, hi-tech drones and other prohibited items and worth ₦921,021,213.00 Duty Paid Value between January and April 2025.
According to the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who disclosed this to journalists at the command on April 29 , 2025 , the seizure operations yielded a total of eleven 11 seizures comprising: 5 units of 40-foot containers , 2 units of 20-foot containers and 4 additional seizures of loosely concealed contraband items.
While categorizing the contraband items, he said there were unregistered pharmaceutical products lacking mandatory NAFDAC registration numbers and certification, a direct contravention of Section 28 of the NAFDAC Act Cap N1 LFN 2004 (as amended) which constitute 63.7% of the total seizure value, expired food items with compromised safety profiles that pose imminent danger to public health if introduced into the consumer market, in violation of the Food Products (Registration) Regulations and the Pre-Shipment Inspection of Exports Act and controlled equipment including drone technology and telecommunications devices imported without requisite end-User certificates from the office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) as mandated by the National Security Agencies Act.
Furthermore, the CGC provided an analysis of the seizure patterns. He said five of the eleven seizures involved various forms of sildenafil citrate and related sexual enhancement medications. This is a disturbing trend in the importation of unregulated sexual performance drugs that pose serious health risks, including potential cardiovascular complications and harmful drug interactions when used without proper medical supervision.
A sophisticated pattern of misdeclaration where importers deliberately classify pharmaceuticals as general merchandise or cosmetics was observed .Container MRSU 3041714 declared sildenafil products as omeprazole capsules, while TCKU 6930113 concealed skin creams as cosmetic powder. This demonstrates calculated attempts to evade regulatory scrutiny.
A pattern in the selection of countries of origin, with many consignments originating from jurisdictions with less stringent pharmaceutical export controls was also observed and this indicates deliberate exploitation of regulatory gaps in the international supply chain.
The significant number of drone seizures (113 units across two incidents) without proper end-user certificates represents an emerging security concern beyond traditional contraband. The inclusion of communication devices suggests potential applications beyond recreational use.
The consistent valuation of pharmaceutical containers between ₦140-145 million per 40ft container indicates a standardized commercial operation with established pricing structures, suggesting these are not opportunistic shipments but rather systematic business operations.
Adeniyi explained that the seizures must be contextualized within the broader enforcement statistics as the service, in the first Q1 2025, recorded a total of 22 narcotics interceptions with a cumulative Duty Paid Value of ₦730,748,173, representing a 34.6% increase over the corresponding period in 2024.
He stated that the significant seizure will serve notice to all importers, exporters, agents, and other stakeholders within the international trade environment that the service’s intelligence network, technological capabilities, and inter-agency collaborations have been significantly enhanced to detect and intercept prohibited items regardless of concealment methods or documentation subterfuge.
“The Service has documented with concern the increasing sophistication of smuggling tactics targeting our maritime domain, particularly the nation’s premier port facility at Apapa. Intelligence reports indicate an increase in attempts to import prohibited and restricted items through container shipping in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the corresponding period in 2024.
“Of particular concern is the alarming prevalence of unregistered pharmaceutical products entering our supply chain without requisite regulatory approvals and quality assurance certifications.
“Reference is hereby made to our ongoing strategic partnerships with critical regulatory agencies, including but not limited to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). These formal collaborations operate under established Memoranda of Understanding and joint operational frameworks that have demonstrably enhanced our enforcement capabilities.
“As documented in our joint operations report of January 2025, the nexus between unregistered pharmaceuticals, controlled substances, and national security infrastructure continues to present a multidimensional threat matrix to our sovereignty. The empirical evidence drawn from our intelligence analysis indicates that these contraband items serve dual purposes: primarily as revenue generators for transnational criminal organizations, and secondarily as operational enablers for non-state actors engaging in activities prejudicial to national security.
“Be assured that we shall deploy all resources at our disposal to ensure that Nigeria’s borders remain secure against the importation of items prejudicial to national security, economic prosperity, and public health.” he said .
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