Suspects arrested as prohibited pharmaceutical customs interceptions, goods of smuggling of the value of N3 billion in Lagos – Thage

At least three suspicions were arrested after the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) officers, The command of the Apapa area intercepted an expedition of prohibited pharmaceutical products and other goods of smuggling with an estimated value of duty value (DPV) of N3.2 billion.

The illegal shipment, of smuggling in the country through the Lagos port complex, was discovered following intensified application operations.

Speaking with journalists in Lagos, the controller of the customs area, Babunde Olomu, said that convulsions were the result of joint efforts by the customs service of Nigeria and other national and international security agencies.

“This command is not sacrificing the compliance with the altar of commercial facilitation. On my watch and with the stimulating guide of the general controller of customs, Bashir adiwale Adeniyi, who was in command two weeks ago to show 12 containers of seized pharmaceutical products. Consequently, following our scrupulous efforts, we recently discovered six others loaded with prohibited items, mostly unregistered pharmaceutical products. Other articles in the seized containers are cosmetics, used clothes and two illegally imported vehicles in the country. These convulsions are worth a total DPV of N3.2 billion.

“While we facilitate trade, collecting entrances for the government, the NCS owes the Nigerian people the duty to protect them from dangerous imports that are harmful to their health and well -being.

“As officers of the largest, busiest and premier of the nation, we are determined to avoid making the Nigerians vulnerable to the selfish interests of the death merchants whose stock on the market is to bring harmful substances such as those I will show you today.

“In addition to violating the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, these containers imported with prohibited medical articles also violate the medical supplies of the organization of world customs, an international application effort against counterfeit medical supplies, poor and unauthorized,” said Olimu.

At the arrests made so far, Olomu has revealed: “Three suspicions have been arrested in relation to these convulsions and are in various interrogation phases to face the full anger of the law. These two convulsions alone have a road value of N2.7 billion. It is interesting to note that these containers were intercepted following the international collaboration and local networking with officers and men of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), “he said.

By classifying the kidnapping, Olomu said: “A 40 -foot container (n. SUDU 8685733) was discovered that it contains 1,698 CSC RSPL cough cartons with Codein, hidden in 202 water cabinet packages.

“Another 40 -foot container (n. Mrsu 4846204) contained 1,690 cartoons of codeine syrup, also hidden inside the toilet seats.

“Other intercepted shipments include: Container No. Oneu 1153150 (40FT) transporting 1,584 packages of globin crosses and 30 g clobetasol cream, falsely declared as truck tires.

“Container n. Mrsu 3258823 (40FT), which contained unregistered drugs including Rabeprazole for injection, tablets of Zahifranil (25mg), Vancomina Chlorhydrate (1000 mg) and ciprofetadina with vitamin B complex: declaredly declared as a kitchen and tables.

“Container n. Mrku 0904594 (40FT), which hid two vehicles stolen from Canada: a 2024 lexus RX 450 (frame n. Jtjcjnga6r201707) and a 2023 lexus rx 350 (chassis n. 2t2bamcapco32741), decomitated as food.

“Container No. Seku 4716830 (40FT), which contained 390 bales of used clothing, in violation of the laws of the country’s importing.”

He revealed that the command had exceeded the sign of the revenue of N1 trillion by the end of May.

“So far we have generated a total of N1,094 trillions starting from 21 May 2025. This collection confirms our trajectory and laudable antecedent to meet and overcome our goal. As we did before, we are ready to do better this year.

“For example, in October 2024, we collected N18.2 billion; on March 14, 2025, we recorded a company of N18.9 billion; and on May 20, 2025, we made another record of N18.919 billion. All these were innovative daily collections,” he said.

Speaking also, the general controller assistant of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), head of narcotics, Buba Uwadiawakawa, has attributed success to the joint efforts for sharing intelligence.

“The interception of the enormous volumes of unregistered pharmaceutical products was made possible through the collaborative efforts of local and international safety partners,” he said.