Apapa Customs Command Seizes Prohibited Items Worth N921 Million in Four Months

ZAINAB JUNAID

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Apapa Port Command has made significant seizures of prohibited and restricted items worth Nine Hundred and Twenty-One Million, Twenty-One Thousand, Two Hundred and Thirteen Naira (₦921,021,213.00) between January and April 2025.

Speaking at a briefing held in the Command on Wednesday, the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR made this known, stating that the seizures included 11 contrabands.

These comprised- 5 units of 40-foot containers; 2 units of 20-foot containers and 4 additional seizures of loosely concealed contraband items.

The Customs Chief categorised the seized items into three main groups.

Categories of Seized Items

Category A: Unregistered Pharmaceuticals 63.7% of the seized items are unregistered pharmaceutical products lacking National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, registration numbers, contravening Section 28 of the NAFDAC Act.

Category B: Expired Food Items Expired food items that pose health risks due to compromised safety profiles, violating food regulations.

Category C: Controlled Equipment Drone technology and telecommunications devices imported without End-User Certificates from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, breaching national security regulations.

He also highlighted six key patterns identified by the Agency in smuggling activities, stating “Upon meticulous analysis of these seizures, the Service has identified several significant patterns that warrant public attention

Patterns Identified:

• Pattern of Sexual Enhancement Drugs. Five of the eleven seizures involved various forms of sildenafil citrate and related sexual enhancement medications. This is a disturbing trend in the importation of unregulated sexual performance drugs that pose serious health risks, including potential cardiovascular complications and harmful drug interactions when used without proper medical supervision.

• Strategic Misdeclaration Tactics. We have observed a sophisticated pattern of misdeclaration where importers deliberately classify pharmaceuticals as general merchandise or cosmetics. Container MRSU 3041714 declared sildenafil products as omeprazole capsules, while TCKU 6930113 concealed skin creams as cosmetic powder. This demonstrates calculated attempts to evade regulatory scrutiny.

•Diversification of Contraband Portfolio. The seizures reveal importers are diversifying their contraband portfolios—combining pharmaceuticals, food items, and controlled technology in systematic shipments. This suggests the emergence of organized networks with sophisticated logistics capabilities rather than isolated smuggling attempts.

• Strategic Country of Origin Selection. Analysis reveals a pattern in the selection of countries of origin, with many consignments originating from jurisdictions with less stringent pharmaceutical export controls. This indicates deliberate exploitation of regulatory gaps in the international supply chain.

• Escalation of Non-Pharmaceutical Security Threats. The significant number of drone seizures (113 units across two incidents) without proper end-user certificates represents an emerging security concern beyond traditional contraband. The inclusion of communication devices suggests potential applications beyond recreational use.

• Financial Scale Analysis. The consistent valuation of pharmaceutical containers between ₦140-145 million per 40ft container indicates a standardized commercial operation with established pricing structures, suggesting these are not opportunistic shipments but rather systematic business operations.

Despite the seizures, the Comptroller General of Customs reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to securing Nigeria’s borders and protecting national security, economic prosperity, and public health.

“This will be achieved by deploying all resources at our disposal,” he added .