Nigeria Customs Destroys N12.8bn Illicit Drugs

In Lagos State, the Nigeria Customs Service took action on Thursday, 15th June,2023, by disposing of 96 containers holding a variety of illicit and expired drugs valued at N12.8bn.

Speaking to reporters in the Epe region of the state while overseeing the disposal of the contraband, Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, Adonye Dappa-Williams, stated that the goods were brought for destruction following their condemnation by the court.

Dappa-Williams emphasized that the destruction of the illicit products would serve as a deterrent against their importation and consumption.

Furthermore, he mentioned that the importers of such products would soon be held fully accountable for their actions under the law.

On why the volume was much, he said, “It has to do with the guideline that the importation of pharmaceutical products is restricted to very few ports. And that is why the strength of the pharmaceuticals coming here is high; it is purely restricted and it can’t come through any other port. That is why all our destruction has taken place here.”

In the batch of illicit and expired drugs set for destruction, there were 16 different brands encompassing various types of medications. These included tramadol tablets, codeine cough syrup, diclofenac tablets and injections, pramo sex, yagra tablets, black cobra tablets, sildenafil citrate tablets, chaka pain extra tablets, mebendazole tablets, royal chest lung tablets, Dr. ibramol tablets, omeprazole capsules, cotrimoxazole tablets, diavita loperamide capsules, diarrhoea stop, and chlorpheniramine malfate capsules.

Speaking further, Dappa-Williams said, “We also have other products that failed to meet the statutory import guidelines for destruction.

The aforementioned items have all been condemned by courts of competent jurisdiction with a duty paid value of N12.9bn”

He emphasized once again that the detrimental impact of these illicit items on our society cannot be overstated. Their presence has resulted in the destruction of numerous lives, particularly those of young individuals and families, and has contributed to a significant increase in crime within the community.

“Let me also use this opportunity to thank our sister agencies for their continuous collaboration and synergy in achieving this giant stride,” he added.

Also speaking, a representative of the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control, Jamila Ashiru, said the seizure was done in collaboration with other agencies.

“That is why the Customs and other agencies are in the port to ensure that it didn’t go into the system because if it had gone into the system, the volume is huge.

“Some of these products are unregistered, some are banned, and all that. We also have a legal department for the people arrested. So the legal department is processing it, so hopefully, very soon there will be prosecution and we will all hear about that.” she said.

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