Nigeria Customs Seizes Fake NAFDAC-Labelled Medicines, Illicit Drugs Worth N53.39 Billion at Apapa Port
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded one of its biggest anti-smuggling operations after intercepting counterfeit medicines, fake NAFDAC-labelled pharmaceutical products, illicit drugs, and expired medical supplies with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N53.39 billion at the Apapa Port in Lagos.
The seizure, described by Customs authorities as a significant breakthrough, underscores the agency’s renewed commitment to protecting Nigerians from dangerous and substandard pharmaceutical products while strengthening national security.
Speaking on the development, Customs officials said the intercepted consignments included fake medicines fraudulently labelled to appear as though they had been certified by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), as well as expired pharmaceutical products and other prohibited drugs that pose serious health risks.
According to the Service, allowing such products into the Nigerian market could have resulted in severe public health consequences, including treatment failures, drug resistance, and increased mortality caused by the circulation of counterfeit and expired medicines.
The Nigeria Customs Service noted that the successful interception was made possible through enhanced intelligence gathering, risk assessment, cargo profiling, and closer collaboration with relevant government agencies responsible for regulating imports and safeguarding public health.
Customs further stated that the operation reflects its determination to prevent criminal networks from using Nigeria’s seaports as channels for smuggling counterfeit and harmful products into the country.
Authorities warned importers, clearing agents, and other stakeholders involved in illegal importation that the Service will continue to deploy advanced surveillance measures and strict enforcement strategies to identify and seize prohibited goods entering Nigerian ports.
The agency reaffirmed that anyone found violating Nigeria’s import regulations would face the full weight of the law, stressing that there would be no tolerance for activities that endanger the lives of citizens or undermine the nation’s economy.
The seized items are expected to be handed over to the appropriate regulatory agencies, including NAFDAC, for further investigation, laboratory examination where necessary, and eventual destruction in accordance with established procedures.
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The latest seizure adds to a growing list of enforcement successes by the Nigeria Customs Service in its ongoing campaign against smuggling, counterfeit pharmaceuticals, and other illicit imports. The Service reiterated its commitment to working with security and regulatory agencies to keep Nigeria’s borders secure and protect consumers from dangerous products.
