Customs, NAFDAC Destroy Fake Drugs, Food Items in Sokoto

Onuminya  Innocent in Sokoto

The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command, in collaboration with the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed a large quantum of counterfeit goods certified to be unfit for human consumption in Sokoto.

This action, according to the Comptroller of Customs, Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command, Musa Omale, is in line with the Service mandate of smuggling suppression.

Omale noted that the Command carried out the destruction of seized items certified by NAFDAC to be unfit for human consumption.

The destruction, which took place at Kwanawa Dumping Site in Sokoto, was witnessed by heads of other security agencies, which included the Nigerian Army, NSCDC, Nigerian Police among others as well as government officials.

The NCS boss explained that “Section 245 of NCS Act 2023 empowers the Service to seize goods that contravene customs and excise laws and be disposed in such a manner the service directs.

“Disposal of items by destruction as we witness today is carried out as the last resort. These are unregistered smuggled items that the National Agency for Food and drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) certified to be unfit for human consumption.”

He further warned smugglers to desist from the dastardly act which is inimical to the health of Nigerians, the economy, and overall development of the country.

Omale assured Nigerians that as the gatekeeper of the country’s border, the Service will not relent in its effort to ensure that goods unhealthy for human consumption and injurious to the economy do not see the light of the day.

Items destroyed included unregistered Tomato Paste, Condensed Milk, Alfakher Shisha, Ginjar Tea, Maggi and others

On his part, the Sokoto State Coordinator of NAFDAC, Garba Abubakar Adamu, commended the NCS for assisting NAFDAC in the fight against unregistered food items and drugs.