The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted and confiscated contraband items valued at N921 billion, together with unregistered pharmaceutical merchandise, expired meals gadgets, and restricted safety tools, in a sweeping enforcement operation carried out throughout the nation’s ports and entry factors.
The Comptroller-Normal of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this throughout a press briefing, noting that the seizures had been made between January and April 2025 in 11 separate interdictions.
The operation concerned 5 40-foot containers, two 20-foot containers, and 4 situations of loosely hid smuggled items.
Adeniyi revealed that the seizures are a part of a broader intelligence-led enforcement technique that has recorded 22 narcotics-related interceptions in Q1 2025 alone, with a duty-paid worth of N730 billion — representing a 34.6% improve in comparison with the identical interval in 2024.
“These operations should not remoted actions however a part of a sustained crackdown on illicit imports in collaboration with regulatory our bodies,” he acknowledged, referencing the Nationwide Company for Meals and Drug Administration and Management (NAFDAC), Nationwide Drug Regulation Enforcement Company (NDLEA), and the Workplace of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
In keeping with Government Orders on port effectivity and nationwide safety directives, the Apapa Command has reportedly intensified surveillance at seaports, airports, and land borders to counter evolving techniques by transnational smuggling syndicates.
Among the many intercepted gadgets had been; 89 cartons of unregistered pharmaceutical merchandise, 1,243 cartons of hydra-sildenafil citrate pill, A 40-foot container with 1,400 packages of unregistered medicine, A fifth container falsely declared as beauty powder, containing 805 packages of prescribed drugs, Two 20-foot containers of expired margarine, 60 items of military-grade drones (estimated at N15.9 million), 53 helicopter drones with a duty-paid worth of N2.1 million, 10 FM transceiver walkie-talkies seized at ENL Terminal, 500 packages of uncertified lively medicines
Adeniyi raised concern over a surge in unregulated sexual enhancement medicine, saying 5 of the intercepted containers had been full of variants of sildenafil citrate and associated substances.
“This can be a severe public well being concern,” he warned. “Indiscriminate use of such medicine with out medical supervision may result in harmful well being outcomes, together with cardiovascular problems.”
He additional outlined 5 key smuggling traits uncovered in the midst of the seizures; Proliferation of sexual enhancement medicine, largely unregulated and with out correct medical oversight. Misdeclaration of products, with importers disguising pharmaceutical merchandise as normal merchandise or cosmetics. Diversified contraband cargo, mixing expired meals, prescribed drugs, and restricted know-how in single shipments, indicating well-organised prison networks. Use of false documentation, particularly the absence of NAFDAC certification and ONSA-issued end-user certificates for safety tools. Exploitation of port logistics loopholes, enabling concealment and tried clearance of hazardous items.
Adeniyi reiterated the service’s dedication to defending public well being and nationwide safety, whereas pledging continued collaboration with related businesses to dismantle smuggling networks and implement Nigeria’s import rules.
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