Customs Breaks Transnational Criminal Networks, Impounds Breathtaking Contraband Items that poses National Threat in Apapa .. As Adeniyi Unveils Seizures of Drones, Sexual Enhancement Drugs, Fake and Expired Pharmaceuticals, others worth Over N921M

Customs Breaks Transnational Criminal Networks, Impounds Breathtaking Contraband Items that poses National Threat in Apapa

… As Adeniyi Unveils Seizures of Drones, Sexual Enhancement Drugs, Fake and Expired Pharmaceuticals, others worth Over N921M

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has continued to live up to its billings in tackling the menace of smuggling and activities of criminal importers and economic saboteurs, despite their penchant at constantly evolving antics to outsmart enforcement officials of the agency.

Recent enforcement actions that took place in the heart of the Premier Apapa Port Command of the service can be alluded to efforts of vibrancy and activism endeared to by the Nigeria Customs to adequately match up to the antics of these nefarious elements.

It was indeed a huge enforcement success to the service and Nigeria when on Wednesday 30th, 2025, the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR unveiled breathtaking contraband seizures of dangerous items that poses serious national threat, such as different categories of Drones. Fake Sexual Enhancement Drugs, Illicit Medicament, as well as Unregistered and Expired Drugs, others worth over N921m, which were recorded by the Apapa Area Command of the service from January to April, 2025.

CGC Adewale Adeniyi MFR however showcased a total of eleven (11) seizures made by the Apapa command of the service from enforcement operations between January to April, 2025.

They comprised of Five (5) units of 40-foot containers, Two (2) units of 20-foot containers, Four (4) additional seizures of loosely concealed contraband items.

According to him, the seizures have an aggregate Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Nine Hundred and Twenty-One Million, Twenty-One Thousand, Two Hundred and Thirteen Naira (₦921,021,213.00) as calculated in accordance with Service Valuation protocols.

The CGC also described as alarming the high rate of importation of sexual enhancement drugs and other substandard pharmaceutical products into the country, as well as the prevalence of unregistered pharmaceutical products entering the country’s supply chain without requisite regulatory approvals and quality assurance certifications is a cause for serious concerns.

The large volume of sexual enhancement drugs which he said formed a larger chunk of seized items at the Apapa port was of huge concern to the customs boss which according to him constitute five out of the 11 containers intercepted and contained 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”, the CGC said.

Meanwhile, the contraband goods were profiled into three principal categories, which include:

Category A. Unregistered pharmaceutical products lacking mandatory NAFDAC registration numbers and certification, a direct contravention of Section 28 of the NAFDAC Act Cap N1 LFN 2004 (as amended). These constitute 63.7% of the total seizure value.

Category B.  Expired food items with compromised safety profiles that pose imminent danger to public health if introduced into the consumer market, in violation of the Food Products (Registration) Regulations and the Pre-Shipment Inspection of Exports Act.

Category C. Controlled equipment including drone technology and telecommunications devices imported without requisite End-User Certificates from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) as mandated by the National Security Agencies Act.

Similarly, the Service said it has documented with concern the increasing sophistication of smuggling tactics targeting our maritime domain, particularly the nation’s premier port facility at Apapa.

“Intelligence reports indicate an increase in attempts to import prohibited and restricted items through container shipping in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the corresponding period in 2024.

“Of particular concern is the alarming prevalence of unregistered pharmaceutical products entering our supply chain without requisite regulatory approvals and quality assurance certifications.

“These items constitute a clear and present danger to public health, with potential to cause significant morbidity and mortality if permitted to infiltrate our domestic markets. The Nigeria Customs Service, in exercise of its statutory mandate, has therefore escalated its risk assessment protocols at all points of entry.

Pursuant to the National Strategic Economic Development Plan and the Executive Order on Port Operations, the Service has intensified surveillance across all authorized points of entry, specifically seaports, airports, and approved land borders. This intensification is in direct response to the adaptive methodologies being deployed by transnational criminal networks seeking to compromise our border security architecture and circumvent established import protocols.

The detailed breakdown of these seizures include: 40FT Container No. CAAU 6514500. Contained 891 cartons of unregistered pharmaceutical products including REDSUN SILDENAFIL CITRATE ORAL JELLY (100MG), ANTI-DOULEUR HUILE (60ML), DR. ICO CYPROPHEPTADINE WITH MULTIVITAMIN TABLET, SAMSON OIL (2ML), ROCKET SILDENAFIL CITRATE TABLET (20OMG), DR. ICO HERBAL INHALER, and DR. ICO PAIN RELIEFOIL without NAFDAC Registration numbers. Duty PaidValue: ₦142,296,505.40FT Container No. TCNU 6880130. Contained 242 cartons of COL   CAPS-CHLOROPHENIRAMINE-MALEATE   CAPSULES (unregistered pharmaceuticals) without NAFDAC Registration numbers. Duty Paid Value: ₦140,101,224.

The container and its contents have been seized and will be condemned according to extant laws.40FT Container NO. MRSU 3041714. Contained 1,001 cartons/packages of HYEGRA SILDENAFIL CITRATE TABLETS 200mg (unregistered pharmaceuticals) without NAFDAC Registration numbers.

These were falsely declared as OMEPRAZOLE CAPSULE. Duty Paid Value: ₦143,234,502. The container has been seized in accordance with section 246(g) of the NCS Act 2023.40FT Container No. UETU 6679312. Contained 1,400 packages of ORIGINAL CHEST & LUNGS, VITAPLUS (BIG BOOTY TABLETS), CYPROHIPTADIN WITH B-COMPLEX TABLETS without NAFDAC40FT Container no. TCKU 6930113. Contained 805 PACKAGES OF GBOGBONISE SKIN CREAM and 536 PACKAGES OF SKINCHEMIST CREAM without NAFDAC Registration numbers, falsely declared as 1,341 packages of cosmetic powder. Duty Paid Value:₦141,576,012.

Both the container and its contents have been seized according to section 246(g) of the NCS Act.20FT Container no. GCNU 1367992. Contained expired Margarine products with a Duty Paid Value of ₦120,113,043.

The container and expired products have been seized and condemned via Federal High Court suit no. FHC/L/MISC/229/2024 of 6th May, 2024.20FT Container no. GCNU 1372704. Contained expired margarine products with a Duty Paid Value of ₦120,113,043.

This container has also been seized and condemned via Federal High Court suit no. FHC/L/MISC/229/2024 of 6th May 2024.

60 UNITS OF WARRIOR DRONE: These drones (seizure No. NCS/INV/APQ/25/0001E of 16/01/025) were evacuated from container no. MSKU 9329923(40ft) for lack of End-user certificate. Duty Paid Value: ₦15,914,681. They have been seized in line with extant laws.

53 UNITS OF DIFFERENT HELICOPTER DRONES: These drones (seizure No. NCS/INV/APQ/25/002E of 29/01/25) were evacuated from SIFAX III for lack of End-user certificate. Duty Paid Value: ₦2,139,928.

10 PCS OF PROFESSIONAL FM TRANSCEIVER WALKIE-TALKIE. These communication devices (seizure No. NCS/INV/APQ/25/003E of 15/02/25) were evacuated from ENL for lack of End-user certificate. Duty Paid Value: ₦520,000.number. Duty Paid Value: ₦70,102,114. The container and its contents have been seized according to extant laws.