Customs Hands Over Expired Drugs Worth N3.7bn to NAFDAC

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Ikeja, has handed over three truckloads of expired pharmaceutical products valued at N3.7 billion to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for proper disposal. The event, which took place at the NCS office in Ikeja, Lagos, underscores the growing collaboration between regulatory agencies in tackling the circulation of harmful and substandard medicines in the country.

Comptroller Mohammed Shu’aibu, Controller of the Federal Operations Unit Zone A, while handing over the items, said the seizures were made following intelligence-led operations carried out by his officers. He explained that the expired drugs were intercepted at different locations and had already exceeded their shelf life, making them dangerous for human consumption. According to him, the handover aligns with an existing memorandum of understanding between NCS and NAFDAC, which aims to strengthen cooperation in the fight against the smuggling and distribution of counterfeit and unwholesome pharmaceutical products.

The seized consignments included large quantities of popular drugs and syrups such as codeine, tramadol, Royal 225, Firegra, Really Extra, and Amlodipine, among others. The items were neatly packed in cartons and sacks, transported on three trucks, and had a total duty paid value estimated at N3.7 billion. Shu’aibu expressed concern that, if such expired and illicit products had found their way into circulation, they could have posed severe health risks to unsuspecting Nigerians. He stressed that the NCS remains committed to safeguarding the health and well-being of citizens by ensuring that harmful products do not infiltrate the Nigerian market.

He also noted that the seizure and handover demonstrate the importance of inter-agency collaboration in addressing the growing menace of fake and expired drugs in Nigeria. Shu’aibu assured that similar confiscated items would continue to be handed over to NAFDAC for appropriate regulatory action as part of the ongoing campaign against the distribution of unwholesome products. He reiterated that smugglers and illegal distributors would not escape the law, adding that the NCS is continuously improving its intelligence-gathering capacity to intercept such shipments.

Receiving the expired drugs on behalf of NAFDAC, the Director of Enforcement and Investigation, Dr. Martin Iluyomade, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its relentless efforts in protecting public health. He said the agency was deeply appreciative of the synergy that exists between NAFDAC and Customs, which has made such significant seizures possible. Iluyomade explained that the harmful effects of expired and counterfeit drugs on public health cannot be overemphasized, pointing out that such products not only endanger lives but also undermine the credibility of the country’s healthcare system.

He further disclosed that NAFDAC would take necessary steps to ensure the safe disposal of the expired drugs in accordance with global best practices. According to him, the agency will also intensify its enforcement drive and surveillance operations across the country to curb the circulation of illicit drugs and bring offenders to justice. Iluyomade appealed to Nigerians to always purchase medicines from registered pharmacies and outlets approved by NAFDAC, warning that buying drugs from unregulated markets remains a major avenue for counterfeit and expired products to reach unsuspecting consumers.

The handover ceremony attracted key stakeholders from both agencies and other relevant security outfits who applauded the collaboration. Industry experts and public health advocates have hailed the move as a step in the right direction toward sanitizing Nigeria’s pharmaceutical market. They emphasized that smuggling and distribution of expired drugs remain a significant threat to public health and safety, calling for sustained vigilance at the nation’s borders and improved monitoring of drug supply chains.

Analysts have also called for stiffer penalties against perpetrators to serve as a deterrent to others involved in the illicit trade. They argue that beyond confiscation, there is a need for more prosecutions and convictions of offenders to demonstrate that the Nigerian government is serious about safeguarding its citizens from harmful products. They also advised that more resources and technology should be deployed to assist Customs and NAFDAC in tracing and dismantling smuggling networks.

The NCS and NAFDAC have continued to work together under their existing MoU, which allows for intelligence sharing, joint operations, and regulatory oversight. This has led to several seizures of counterfeit and expired products in recent years, reflecting the agencies’ renewed commitment to protecting public health and maintaining market integrity.

This latest seizure and handover underscore the urgent need for continuous collaboration among all relevant stakeholders to protect the Nigerian population from the dangers posed by expired and fake drugs. It also highlights the importance of public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about the risks of consuming unapproved medicines. Both agencies reiterated their resolve to keep working tirelessly to ensure that only safe and effective medicines are available in the Nigerian market.

With more Nigerians becoming aware of the dangers associated with counterfeit and expired drugs, it is expected that consumers will play their part by reporting suspicious activities and patronizing only regulated outlets. The NCS and NAFDAC have assured that such collaborative measures will be sustained and intensified, sending a strong message to those engaged in illicit drug trade that their days are numbered. This milestone underscores a collective effort to safeguard the health of Nigerians and strengthen the integrity of the nation’s pharmaceutical industry.