Customs Seizes N19m Drugs with Fake NAFDAC Number in Sokoto

Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Sector 4 Joint Border Patrol, has announced that it intercepted unregistered and expired pharmaceutical products worth N19.62 million smuggled into the country.

Addressing journalists on Thursday at the command headquarters, Sokoto Controller of the Sector North West Zone, Mr. Kolapo Ayodeji, said that the unregistered drugs were found in a truck at Kajiji, Shagari Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, upon the examination of the truck, unregistered 300,000 packets of sex enhancement drugs were found.

Ayodeji disclosed that the command also seized 35 Jerrican of 25 litres of premium motor spirit at Illela border in line with ECOWAS sanctions on Niger Republic.

He further reinforced his earlier pledge to adopt new strategies that would boost trade while enforcing the nation’s anti-smuggling laws along the borders in the North-west zone.

According to him, “this seizure contravened both Nigeria Customs Service ban on the importation of pharmaceutical products through the land border without approval and further contravened NAFDAC laws as they do not have NAFDAC registration numbers.” “Furthermore, most of the seized pharmaceutical products have expired.”

He reiterated the commitment to fight smuggling under any guise, saying that “those trying our resolve will continue to meet their water-loo as we remain resolute at ensuring adequate surveillance of our borders.”

He stated that the food scarcity experienced in the country is as a result of illegal smuggling of food stuff to the neighbouring countries.

He maintained that NCS has deployed technology in tracking smugglers who are bent in sabotaging Nigeria economy.

The comptroller later handed over the seized drugs to NAFDAC for destruction.