… hands over 16 significant seizures to NDLEA, NAFDAC 

The Tin Can Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Thursday November 7, 2024, announced 16 significant seizures of illicit substances.

The unregistered pharmaceutical products and other items according to the Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Dera Nnadi, came from India, United Kingdom and Canada respectively.

Briefing the press at Tin Can Island Port, Lagos, Nnadi also announced that from January 2024 to 7th of November 2024 the Command generated the sum of One Trillion, Forty Six Billion, Four Hundred and Ninety Six Million, Five Hundred and Ninety Three Thousand, One Hundred and Three Naira Sixty Kobo (1,046,496,593,103.60).  

Giving details of the 16 containers, he said they were discharged from May 17 to October 23, 2024 and its containing Codeine-based products.

He said: “Today, we are unveiling 16 significant seizures of illicit substances, unregistered pharmaceutical products and other items seized by the Command.  

“Numerous shipments of cough syrups with codeine; Barcadin with Codeine, Broncleer with Codeine, and DSP with Codeine for throat and chesty cough (100ml, 200 bottles per carton), Tapentadol & Carisoprodol: 420 cartons of Royal 225 (Tapentadol HVCL 125mg and Carisoprodol BP 100mg), Benzhexol Tablets: 200 cartons of 5mg Benzhexol Tablets (Brand: Trodal), Cannabis Indica: 77 packets (38.5kg), 532 packets 265.025kg, and 75 packets (37.5kg),  Diclofenac Sodium Tablets: Really Extra brand (50mg, 100 packs per carton).

“Other seized items are: Ceiling fans, Deluxe Chilli Cutters, stainless steel blenders, BiomalArtesunate injection.

Vessels of Importation are: SpilKartika (Hapag Lloyd, voyage No. 2417W), Volana (Hapag Lloyd, voyage Nos. 2416W, 2421W), Maliako (Hapag Lloyd, voyage No. 2421W), WadiBani Khalid (Hapag Lloyd, voyage Nos. 2423W)MSC Sweden VI and MSC Katyayni NY427A.”

He also stated that Barcadin, Diclofenac Tablets, Benzhexol, CSP with Codeine) originated from India, BiomalArtesunate Injection) originated from United Kingdom while Cannabis Indica) originated from Canada.

Nnadi handed over additional 13 Containers of unregistered pharmaceutical products to the National Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) with Total Duty Paid Value for the 16 containers is approximately N37, 000,000,000.00 (Thirty Seven Billion Naira Only).

The CAC recalled that on October 2, 2024, the Tin Can can Island Port Command officially handed over 684 packets of Cannabis Indica, weighing a total of 341.025 kg, with an estimated street value of ₦682,050,000.00 to the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and NAFDAC.

“These narcotics were discovered in three 40ft containers Nos: MSMU 518030/2, MSMU 602957/0, and FSCU 927461/3), as part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen interagency collaboration and coordination,” he stated.

Further, he said the Command with other security agencies are ready to deploy strategies to check this menace.

“The Command in particular and the Service in general will deploy all necessary resources and strategies at our disposal and in collaboration with local and foreign partner security and regulatory agencies to check the menace of illegal importation of unregistered pharmaceutical products into the country.

“We are more than committed to deliver on this mandate,” Nnadi assured.