Customs Hands Over Seized Fake Drugs to NAFDAC in Rivers

Customs Hands Over Seized Fake Drugs to NAFDAC in Rivers

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Port Harcourt Area 1 Command, has intercepted and handed over a consignment of counterfeit pharmaceutical products to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), in a move aimed at safeguarding public health and strengthening the fight against illicit imports.

Speaking during the handover ceremony in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Yola Hashim, said the seizure was made during a routine inspection of a 1×40-foot container from China that was falsely declared as motorcycle spare parts.

On examination, officers discovered 2,455 cartons of unregistered drugs branded as Gebedol, hidden among 23 cartons of motorcycle spare parts and 12 bags, with a duty-paid value estimated at ₦3.29 million.

“Fake drugs kill. They destroy families, weaken our healthcare system, and pose a serious threat to national security. Those involved in such acts are no different from terrorists,” Hashim said.

He praised his officers for their professionalism and acknowledged the role of intelligence sharing from sister security agencies. Hashim noted that the seizure was in line with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NCS and NAFDAC, which he described as a vital tool in tackling the menace of counterfeit imports.

The Customs chief also called for stronger collaboration among regulatory and enforcement agencies to shift from “reactive seizures to proactive intelligence-led prevention.”

Receiving the items, the Deputy Director of NAFDAC, Port Inspection Directorate, Adepoju Raufu, lauded Customs for its vigilance, warning that the counterfeit drugs could have caused severe health consequences if they had entered the Nigerian market.

Raufu said NAFDAC would immediately begin investigations, oversee the destruction of the consignment, and track those behind the illegal importation. He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to protecting public health and deepening cooperation with Customs and other security bodies.

The event was attended by officials from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Immigration Service, Quarantine Service, and freight forwarding associations. It ended with the formal handover of the seized drugs to NAFDAC for further action.