In what authorities are describing as one of the largest pharmaceutical smuggling attempts in recent history, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 16 containers loaded with contraband and misdeclared goods — including unregistered and highly addictive pharmaceuticals valued at a staggering ₦20.5 billion.
The seizure, which was announced Friday at Onne Port in Rivers State, was led by Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, during a press briefing at the Customs Area 2 Command Headquarters.
Adeniyi revealed that 11 of the containers were packed with illicit drugs cleverly concealed under legitimate consumer items such as tomato paste, ceiling fans, plumbing materials, and vehicle parts. Among the intercepted drugs were 1.3 million bottles of Codeine syrup, 12.6 million tablets of Tapentadol/Tramadol, and several other restricted medications with high abuse potential.
“This represents a calculated attempt to exploit our trade system and flood the country with dangerous substances,” Adeniyi warned, adding that the public health fallout could have been devastating.
Intelligence-Led Interdiction
The seizure followed months of coordinated, intelligence-driven operations by the NCS in partnership with key regulatory agencies — including the NDLEA, NAFDAC, and the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Backed by provisions in the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, Customs operatives carried out high-risk interdictions across strategic entry points, culminating in the massive bust.
Detailed figures from the operation revealed the scale of the threat:
- 1,301,000 bottles of Codeine Syrup (100ml)
- 12.6 million tablets of Tapentadol/Tramadol (225mg)
- 9.3 million tablets of Really Extra Diclofenac
- 3.5 million tablets of Trodol (5mg)
- 210,000 tablets of Hyergra (200mg)
- 717,360 tablets of Bisoveu
- 2.2 million tablets of Bassuka (50mg)
To avoid detection, the drugs were buried beneath:
- 118 ceiling fans
- 97,200 tins of tomato paste
- 2,610 plumbing fixtures
- 2,268 units of Smart Tech vehicle parts
Adeniyi described the concealment methods as “evidence of increasing sophistication among smuggling syndicates.”
Public Health and National Security Risk
The Customs chief issued a stark warning about the dual threat posed by such smuggled drugs — to both national health and security.
“Unregulated pharmaceuticals are fueling addiction, disrupting treatment regimes, and undermining public safety. This is no longer just a smuggling problem — it’s a threat to national stability.”
NAFDAC Applauds Customs
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, who joined the press briefing, lauded the Customs Service for its vigilance and described the seizure as a “critical line of defence” against unsafe and illegal pharmaceutical imports.
“These products, if allowed to reach the market, would have caused irreversible harm to countless Nigerians,” she said, promising detailed lab analysis and stringent follow-up measures.
Zero Tolerance for Smuggling
Concluding the briefing, Adeniyi delivered a clear message to drug traffickers and smuggling networks:
“Let it be known: Nigeria’s borders are closed to criminal enterprise. We will deploy every legal and operational tool to pursue and prosecute offenders.”
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s economic reform and national security priorities, pledging enhanced border security and sustained inter-agency collaboration.