The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Tincan Island Port Command, has handed over three containers of expired pharmaceutical products to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) as part of its sustained efforts to curb the circulation of unsafe and illegal drugs in the country.
The handover ceremony, which took place at the Command on Friday, February 6, was led by the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, who described the seizure as a significant achievement in the Command’s ongoing anti-smuggling operations aimed at protecting public health and national security.
According to Comptroller Onyeka, the seized items were contained in three 20-foot containers. Two of the containers, with identification numbers PONU031958/6 and MSKU711656/0, were found to contain expired Tramadol tablets. A thorough examination revealed that one container held 86 cartons of Vingil Tramadol BP 50mg, while the second contained 250 cartons of the same expired product.
The third container, numbered MSKU413519/1, was discovered to contain 370 cartons of expired Diclofenac Sodium BP 50mg tablets without a valid NAFDAC registration number, rendering the consignment illegal and unsafe for public consumption.
Comptroller Onyeka noted that the seizure was the result of intensified cargo examination, improved intelligence gathering, and sustained enforcement operations by the Command. He said the Tincan Island Port Command has remained proactive in intercepting prohibited and falsely declared goods, including controlled pharmaceuticals, arms and ammunition, narcotics, and other items capable of undermining public safety and economic stability.
He added that while strengthening enforcement, the Command has continued to facilitate legitimate trade and contribute significantly to government revenue in line with the core mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service. These successes, he said, are driven by discipline, integrity, and effective inter-agency collaboration.
The Customs Area Controller commended NAFDAC operatives for their consistent cooperation, noting that the synergy between both agencies has been instrumental in intercepting fake, substandard, and expired drugs before they reach the Nigerian populace.
He also praised officers and men of the Tincan Island Port Command for their professionalism, resilience, and dedication to duty, which he said have enhanced the Command’s operational effectiveness.
Comptroller Onyeka further expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, PhD, MFR, psc (+), for his purposeful leadership and strategic reforms, which have strengthened enforcement and compliance operations across Commands.
Reaffirming the commitment of the Command, he assured the general public that the Tincan Island Port Command would not relent in its resolve to combat illicit trade, enforce compliance with extant laws, and work closely with sister agencies to safeguard lives and property.
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