Records Landmark ₦20.5bn Drug Bust

Few weeks after the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) set up a committee to implement the 2024 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at deepening regulatory collaboration, the two agencies alongside other security outfits, have recorded a major breakthrough with the interception of 16 containers loaded with illicit pharmaceutical products, valued at over ₦20.5 billion, at the Port Harcourt II Area Command, Onne.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, announced the seizure during a press briefing held at the Command’s headquarters in Onne, Rivers State, on Friday, 18 July 2025. He attributed the successful operation to intelligence-driven enforcement and the renewed synergy among national security and regulatory bodies.

“Our anti-smuggling operations align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policy on border security, public health, and national safety. We remain committed to ensuring that Nigeria’s borders are not exploited by criminal elements,” the CGC stated.

He explained that the smugglers attempted to disguise the illicit drugs as regular imports such as tomato paste, ceiling fans, and plumbing materials, employing what he described as “sophisticated concealment tactics.”

Items seized from the 16 containers include: 1.3 million bottles of Codeine syrup (100ml each), 9.3 million tablets of Really Extra Diclofenac. Others include 12.6 million tablets of Royal Tramadol (225mg), Other unregistered and dangerous pharmaceuticals, including Trodol, Hyergra, Bisoveu, and Bassuka.

“This seizure sends a clear message to criminal networks: the Nigeria Customs Service, in partnership with our enforcement counterparts, maintains zero tolerance for smuggling. We will bring the full weight of the law to bear on all perpetrators,” Adeniyi warned.

The intercepted containers were officially handed over to Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of NAFDAC, for regulatory action in accordance with due process.

Professor Adeyeye commended the vigilance of the Customs Service and its partner agencies, stressing the public health threat posed by the illicit consignment.

“Frankly, it was shocking. These products could destroy lives: Codeine, Tramadol, and counterfeit painkillers. The fact that some were hidden in tomato paste shows clear criminal intent. This isn’t business; this is murder for profit,” she said.

She confirmed that all seized items would undergo comprehensive regulatory procedures, including laboratory testing, documentation, and destruction.

“We are WHO-certified, with international-standard laboratories and well-trained personnel. These products will never make it into the Nigerian market,” she affirmed.

Professor Adeyeye warned importers of falsified medicines, branding them “merchants of death” and reiterating that Nigeria would not serve as a dumping ground for substandard or unapproved pharmaceutical products.

Customs Area Controller (CAC) of PH II Onne Command, Comptroller Muhammed Babandede, described the event as brief but historic. He highlighted the critical role of institutional collaboration in achieving the seizure, particularly the contributions of NDLEA, NAFDAC, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

“The seizure involved eleven 40-foot containers of illicit medicines, four micro containers of bottled water, and one container of salt. This success reflects the strength of our collaboration, which aligns with the Service’s policy of unity through cooperation, consolidation, and innovation,” Babandede stated.

The Onne interception comes shortly after a separate major seizure at Apapa Port last week, where 25 containers of substandard medical devices were impounded.

Reaffirming their joint commitment, all agencies pledged to enhance intelligence-sharing, surveillance, and enforcement operations in line with national security objectives and global best practices.