NIGERIA CUSTOMS HANDS OVER N20.5 BILLION WORTH OF SEIZED FAKE DRUGS AND TOMATO PASTE TO NAFDAC. (PHOTO).

 Nigeria Customs Hands Over N20.5 Billion Worth of Seized Fake Drugs and Tomato Paste to NAFDAC

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has handed over 16 containers of illicit pharmaceutical products and substandard tomato paste, valued at over ₦20.5 billion, to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) at Onne Port, Rivers State. The seizure, described as a major breakthrough in the fight against smuggling, underscores the strengthened collaboration between the two agencies.

The intercepted consignment, comprising 11 containers of unregistered and banned pharmaceuticals and four containers of unwholesome tomato paste, was formally transferred to NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, by NCS Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi on Saturday. The illicit items included 1.3 million bottles of codeine syrup, 12.6 million tablets of Tramadol, 9.3 million tablets of falsified Diclofenac, 280 packages of counterfeit Hyergra tablets, and other unregistered drugs like Trodol and Bisoveu, concealed within legitimate goods such as tomato paste, ceiling fans, and plumbing materials.

Adeniyi, speaking during the handover at Onne Port, emphasized that the operation reflects the NCS’s commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s policies on border security, public health, and national safety. “This seizure sends a clear message to criminal networks: we maintain zero tolerance for smuggling and will bring the full weight of the law to bear on perpetrators,” he stated, crediting the success to intelligence-driven enforcement and collaboration with NAFDAC, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the Department of State Services (DSS).

Prof. Adeyeye condemned the smuggling attempt, describing the concealed drugs as a severe public health threat. “These products could destroy lives—codeine, Tramadol, and counterfeit painkillers hidden in tomato paste show clear criminal intent. This isn’t business; it’s murder for profit,” she said. Adeyeye assured that the seized items would undergo laboratory testing and be destroyed in line with World Health Organization standards, ensuring they never reach the Nigerian market. She commended the NCS for its vigilance and urged Nigerians to report suspected cases of fake or substandard products to NAFDAC offices or via social media channels.

The operation follows a similar interception at Apapa Port, where 25 containers of substandard medical devices were seized, highlighting the agencies’ intensified efforts under a 2024 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Comptroller Mohammed Babandede of the Onne Area II Command noted that the seizure, which also included one container of salt and four micro-containers of bottled water used as disguises, demonstrates the effectiveness of inter-agency synergy. “This historic operation reflects our policy of unity through cooperation, consolidation, and innovation,” he said.

The seized pharmaceuticals pose risks including drug addiction, compromised treatment outcomes, and increased cancer risk from toxic metabolites, while the substandard tomato paste could cause acute food poisoning and nutritional deficiencies. NAFDAC and NCS vowed to enhance surveillance and enforcement to prevent Nigeria from becoming a dumping ground for harmful products, aligning with national security and public health objectives.