The Nigeria Customs Service has transferred seized narcotics, counterfeit medicines and expired pharmaceutical products with a combined value of ₦53.39 billion to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) following major anti-smuggling operations at Apapa Port.
The handover included 6.7 tonnes of cannabis, 339,800 bottles of codeine syrup and a range of other prohibited and illicit products intercepted before they entered the Nigerian market. The seizures form part of intensified enforcement efforts aimed at curbing drug trafficking, protecting public health and strengthening border security at the country’s busiest seaport.
The development underscores closer collaboration among Nigeria’s key enforcement and regulatory agencies in tackling the illegal importation of narcotics and substandard medical products, Brandspur Brand News reports.
The Nigeria Customs Service said recent enforcement operations demonstrate that the nation’s seaports are under tighter surveillance, with increased efforts to detect and intercept prohibited goods concealed in cargo shipments. The agency has continued to deploy intelligence-driven inspections and inter-agency cooperation to disrupt smuggling networks operating through the country’s maritime gateways.
The transfer of the seized items to NDLEA and NAFDAC allows both agencies to carry out their respective statutory responsibilities, including further investigations, prosecution where necessary and the safe disposal of illicit drugs and counterfeit or expired pharmaceutical products in line with Nigerian law.
The latest seizure highlights the Federal Government’s sustained campaign against illicit drugs, counterfeit medicines and organised smuggling, as authorities intensify measures to prevent harmful products from reaching consumers and to improve security across Nigeria’s ports.
