By Bon Peters | Port Harcourt
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Area 1 Command in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has intercepted a large consignment of fake pharmaceutical products and officially handed them over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Tuesday.
This development was disclosed in a press release issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Customs II Barilule Jane Aanee, and made available to The Bureau News.
The handover ceremony took place at the Command’s Training Room and was presided over by the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller YM Hashim. Officials from NDLEA, DSS, Immigration, Quarantine Service, and key freight forwarding associations were also in attendance.
According to the statement, the intercepted container, falsely declared as carrying motorcycle spare parts from China, was found to be carrying 2,455 cartons of unregistered pharmaceutical products branded as Gebedol. Each carton contained 10 packs of 6 sachets, concealed alongside 23 cartons of motorcycle parts and 12 bags. The consignment had a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦3,293,726.
“Fake drugs kill,” Comptroller Hashim warned. “They destroy families, weaken our healthcare system, and pose a serious threat to national security. Those involved in such acts are no different from terrorists.”
He commended the professionalism of the Customs officers and acknowledged the vital intelligence support provided by sister agencies. He also highlighted the Memorandum of Understanding between NCS and NAFDAC as an effective tool in curbing the importation of counterfeit products into Nigeria.
“We must move beyond reactive seizures to proactive, intelligence-led prevention strategies, through stronger inter-agency collaboration,” Hashim added.
Responding on behalf of NAFDAC, Pharm. Adepoju Bayo Raufu, Deputy Director, Port Inspection Directorate, commended the Customs Command for its alertness and quick response in stopping the circulation of the fake drugs.
“Had these products reached the market, the consequences for public health would have been catastrophic,” Raufu said. He assured the public that NAFDAC would begin an immediate investigation, oversee the destruction of the seized consignment, and track down those behind the illicit importation.
He reaffirmed NAFDAC’s dedication to protecting public health and strengthening its collaboration with Customs and other enforcement bodies.
The event concluded with the official handover of the seized products to NAFDAC. Comptroller Hashim reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to national safety, stating, “The safety of Nigerians will never be compromised.”