Seme Customs intercept N27m unregistered Pharmaceuticals, cannabis
…Hands over seized cannabis, suspects to NDLEA
The Seme Border Command of Nigeria Customs Service Wednesday announced that it intercepted a truck with registration number GL 6663 GH belonging to one of the major conglomerates concealed with some cartons of pharmaceutical products.
The Custom Area Controller of the Command, Dera Nnadi, who disclosed this in a press conference said that the seizure was made on May 9, 2023 at about 0830hrs when officers and men of the Command were conducting stop and search along Abidjan Lagos Corridor.
According to him, the truck The truck was taken to the station at Seme for proper examination and upon the conduct of the examination, the following unregistered pharmaceutical products were discovered:
i.MORPHINE SULFATE 100ml x 1076 bottles; ii.AMODIAQUINE SUSPENSION 60ml x 94 bottles;
iii.VERMOX 500mg x 2970 packages x 1 sachet x 1 tablet; iv.MEPACRINE TABLETS 100mg x 390 packets x 1000 tablets; v.CLOFENAC SR 100mg x 298 packets x 10 sachets x 10 tablets; vi.LOSARTAIL POTASSIUM 50mg x 1485 packages x 2 sachets x 28 tablets; and vii.VIREST 400 ACICLOVIR tablets. B.P 400mg x 499 packages x 5 sachets x 5 tablets.
The seized unregistered pharmaceutical products have a Duty Paid Value of Twenty-Seven Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty-Seven Thousand, Five Hundred and Thirty-Eight Naira (N27, 861, 538.00) only.
Nnadi stated that the seizure contravened Nigeria Customs Service regulation which banned the importation of pharmaceutical products through the land border without approval and further contravening NAFDAC laws as they do not have NAFDAC registration numbers. This is even as five out of the seven seized pharmaceutical products have expired.
He noted that the Command and indeed every Nigerian is worried about this particular seizure considering the dangerous use of morphine which is a derivative of opium. This drug can be deployed for illicit use to aid criminals.
“Let me reiterate our commitment to fight smuggling under any guise and also state that those trying our resolve will continue to meet their waterloo as we remain resolute at ensuring adequate surveillance of our borders,” Nnadi stated.
He further said; “While we draw your attention to this development, recall that, on the 21st of April, 2023, the officer of the Command on a routine patrol along the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor intercepted a Ford Bus conveying Seven (7) large sacks containing five hundred and fifty-three (553) parcels and four suspects were also arrested in connection with the seizure.
“In line with the dictates of the Nigeria Customs Service in the promotion of inter-agency collaboration and synergy, the CGC Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd) directed that the seized items and two (2) suspects should be handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation.
“To this end, the 553 parcels of Cannabis Sativa and two (2) suspects are today being handed over to NDLEA. Two (2) other suspects had earlier been handed over to the sister security agency for necessary action,” he said.
Nnadi thanked the Comptroller General Col. Hammed Ibrahim Ali (rtd) and the management of Customs for the encouragement and support to the Command. He also gave credit for the success of the Command to the tireless effort of officers and men of Seme Area Command.