The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has transferred 16 containers of counterfeit pharmaceuticals and adulterated tomato paste, with a combined value exceeding ₦20.5 billion, to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). The seizure, made at Onne Port in Rivers State, marks a significant victory in the ongoing crackdown on smuggling and substandard goods.
The confiscated items, comprising 11 containers of unapproved and prohibited drugs and four containers of unsafe tomato paste, were officially handed over to NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, by Customs Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi. Among the seized products were 1.3 million bottles of codeine syrup, 12.6 million Tramadol tablets, 9.3 million fake Diclofenac tablets, and 280 packs of counterfeit Hyergra tablets. The illicit goods were disguised within shipments of legitimate items such as tomato paste, ceiling fans, and plumbing materials.
Adeniyi stated that the operation aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s directives on border security and public health protection. “This seizure underscores our zero-tolerance stance against smuggling. We will continue to dismantle criminal networks threatening national safety,”* he said, attributing the success to intelligence-led operations and inter-agency cooperation with NAFDAC, NDLEA, and DSS.
Prof. Adeyeye condemned the smuggling attempt, warning that the seized drugs posed grave health risks. *“These are not just illegal products—they are potential killers. Concealing codeine and Tramadol in food items reveals the reckless greed behind this trade,”* she said. She confirmed that the confiscated goods would be analyzed and destroyed following international safety protocols to prevent circulation in the market.
The interception follows recent seizures of 25 containers of substandard medical equipment at Apapa Port, reflecting heightened enforcement under a 2024 partnership agreement between NAFDAC and Customs. Onne Area II Command Comptroller Mohammed Babandede noted that the operation also uncovered a container of salt and four micro-containers of bottled water used as decoys, showcasing improved inter-agency collaboration.
Health experts warn that the fake pharmaceuticals could lead to addiction, treatment failures, and long-term organ damage, while the contaminated tomato paste may cause food poisoning and malnutrition. Both agencies pledged to intensify surveillance to safeguard public health and block the influx of hazardous goods into Nigeria.
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