The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 13 containers loaded with expired pharmaceuticals, controlled substances, food items and restricted security equipment valued at ₦6.38 billion at Apapa Port in Lagos.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, disclosed this during a press briefing on Tuesday at APM Terminals, Apapa.
According to Adeniyi, the seizures were made following intensified intelligence-led enforcement operations, which included the use of scanning technology and targeted physical examinations of suspicious cargo.
Nature of the Seizures
Customs officers discovered a wide range of prohibited, expired and falsely declared goods hidden in imported consignments. These included expired pharmaceutical products, codeine-based cough syrups, expired food items, restricted security equipment and cannabis.
Among the pharmaceuticals intercepted were Mixagrip Cold Caplets, Ladinax tablets, chloroquine injections, and diclofenac tablets. Officers also seized large quantities of Hyegra 200, Sildenafil Citrate, and 800 cartons of codeine, which were cleverly concealed inside toilet cisterns and sanitary ware to evade detection.
Additional medical items recovered included cartons of Artesunate injections.
Concealment Methods
Smugglers reportedly hid several of the illicit goods inside everyday household items. For instance, 1,700 cartons of codeine cough syrup were concealed alongside luxury food flasks, while another container carried 1,575 cartons of CSMIX with codeine hidden among cartons of electric kettles.
Customs officers also intercepted 13 jumbo bags of Cannabis Sativa weighing 347.57 kilograms, concealed inside a Toyota Sienna vehicle.
Security Equipment and Expired Food Items
Apart from drugs, the operation uncovered restricted security equipment including bulletproof vests, helmets, walkie-talkies and tactical torches.
Expired food products were also found in the containers. These included muffin cookie biscuits, 36,000 cans of expired Primo energy drinks, and tomato paste products branded St. Kelvin and De Truth.
Customs Raises Alarm
Adeniyi warned that the importation of expired pharmaceuticals and controlled substances poses serious risks to public health and national security.
“The importation of expired drugs and controlled substances poses a direct threat to public health,” he said, adding that the concealment of codeine products was a deliberate attempt to fuel substance abuse.
He emphasized that enforcement operations at Apapa Port have been strengthened, warning smugglers against attempting to use the port as a gateway for illegal trade.
“Let me state clearly that Apapa Port is no longer a playground for smugglers hiding behind legitimate trade documentation,” Adeniyi warned.
Wider Crackdown on Illicit Drugs
The interception forms part of a broader nationwide crackdown by government agencies on illegal drugs and prohibited imports. Recently, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intensified operations targeting drug cartels and smuggling networks across the country.
Authorities say continued collaboration among enforcement agencies is crucial to protecting public health and preventing Nigeria’s ports and borders from being exploited for illegal trade.
