The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, has announced the interception of various contraband items at the Apapa Port, including drones, unregistered pharmaceuticals, expired food products, and security equipment. The seized items, valued at over N921 billion, were confiscated between January and April 2025.
Among the items recovered were 89 cartons of unregistered pharmaceuticals in container CAAU6514500, 242 cartons in container TCNU6880130, and 1,001 cartons of hydra-sildenafil citrate tablets in container MRSU3041714. A 40-foot container was also found to contain 1,400 packages of unregistered drugs, while another held 805 falsely declared packages labeled as cosmetic powder.
Two containers of expired margarine were intercepted, along with 60 units of warrior drones valued at N15.9 million and 53 helicopter drones with a duty-paid value of N2.1 million. Additionally, 10 professional FM transceiver walkie-talkies were confiscated, and another container held 500 packages of uncertified active medicine tablets.
Adeniyi stated that many of the security-related items, such as drones and communication gadgets, lacked valid end-user certificates from the Office of the National Security Adviser.He also gave updates on the rollout of the Customs Unified Management Information System, known as B’Odogwu. The system is currently being piloted at PTML and Tin Can Island Port. Adeniyi acknowledged challenges in the early stages but said the service was committed to resolving issues through stakeholder and banking sector engagements.
Customs has heightened surveillance across ports, airports, and land borders in response to evolving smuggling tactics. The agency raised concerns over the growing influx of unregistered pharmaceuticals, especially sexual enhancement drugs, highlighting the health risks associated with unsupervised use.
Adeniyi also pointed to a trend of importers using false declarations, such as labeling pharmaceuticals as general merchandise or cosmetics, and mixing different categories of contraband—including expired food, medicines, and restricted tech—in single containers.
He noted that these developments suggest coordinated operations by sophisticated smuggling networks, including sourcing from countries with weak pharmaceutical export controls to exploit regulatory gaps. Adeniyi reaffirmed that the Nigeria Customs Service remains committed to border security and the protection of public health and national safety.
Source : https://leadership.ng/
