Customs Intercepts ₦59 Million Worth of Expired Drugs, Transfers to NAFDAC

The Port Harcourt Area I Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has recently transferred a consignment of expired pharmaceutical products, with a Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) value exceeding ₦59 million, to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). This decisive seizure successfully prevented potentially dangerous medications from reaching the public and causing harm to unsuspecting Nigerians.

According to an official statement released by the service on Wednesday, the handover ceremony took place at the command’s headquarters in Port Harcourt. The event saw the attendance of representatives from various organizations, including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Department of State Services (DSS), other security outfits, freight forwarding associations, and key industry stakeholders.

As stated in the official communication, “The Nigeria Customs Service, Port Harcourt Area I Command, on Wednesday, 29 July 2026, formally handed over a consignment of intercepted expired medicaments to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control at the Command’s headquarters in Port Harcourt.”

During her address at the ceremony, Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku, the Customs Area Controller for the Port Harcourt Area I Command, underscored that this interception highlights the command's unwavering commitment to preventing harmful and prohibited pharmaceutical products from entering the Nigerian market.

Comptroller Atuluku further disclosed that these expired drugs were discovered during a joint cargo examination, an operation carried out collaboratively by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, NAFDAC, and other relevant government agencies.

She reiterated, “The seizure was a clear demonstration of the Command’s commitment to preventing harmful and prohibited pharmaceutical products from finding their way into Nigerian markets. The expired medicaments were intercepted during a joint examination conducted by officers of the Command in collaboration with NAFDAC and other relevant agencies.”

Additionally, Comptroller Atuluku noted, “The consignment contained several cartons of expired pharmaceutical products with a Combined Insurance and Freight value of over N59m.” The Customs boss issued a stern warning, emphasizing that allowing such expired medicines into circulation could have led to severe health consequences for millions across Nigeria.

The Comptroller also used the opportunity to commend the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, acknowledging his support for intelligence-led operations and his efforts in strengthening inter-agency cooperation.

Accepting the seized items on behalf of NAFDAC, Pharm. Adepoju Raufu, the agency’s Deputy Director of the Port Inspection Directorate, praised the Customs Service for their diligence in preventing the expired drugs from infiltrating the nation’s pharmaceutical supply chain. He assured that NAFDAC would promptly commence the necessary regulatory procedures to ensure the safe and proper disposal of the expired medicaments, in strict adherence to established laws and guidelines.