The Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted unregistered pharmaceutical products valued at over ₦5.8 million along the Illela–Sokoto Road in Sokoto State, raising fresh concerns about the circulation of medicines that have not met regulatory requirements.
The seized products, which included paracetamol, anti-cold medication and other drugs, have been handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further investigation.
The Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Haliru Abdullahi, disclosed this during the handover ceremony at the command headquarters in Sokoto on Wednesday.
According to him, the intercepted consignment had a total duty-paid value of ₦5,804,062.06.
Details of Seized Medicines Revealed
The items recovered by customs officers comprised 360 packages of anti-cold drugs, 500 packages of amodiaquine, 140 packages of paracetamol and 100 packages of quinine.
Abdullahi explained that the importation of unregistered pharmaceutical products contravenes Section 55 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, as well as NAFDAC regulations.
He warned smugglers and dealers involved in the trade to desist, stressing that the command would not tolerate activities capable of endangering public health.
“Let me use this opportunity to warn smugglers and those who deal in such unwholesome products that the Sokoto/Zamfara Command, under my watch, will not tolerate any form of smuggling,” he said.
Customs, NAFDAC Strengthen Enforcement
The Customs official commended the officers responsible for intercepting the products and acknowledged NAFDAC’s cooperation in efforts to prevent unregistered medicines from entering circulation.
The handover to NAFDAC will allow the agency to conduct further investigations and take appropriate regulatory action.
The operation underscores ongoing efforts by Nigerian authorities to curb the movement and sale of pharmaceutical products that have not satisfied the country’s registration requirements.
Consumers are generally advised to purchase medicines from authorised outlets and check that pharmaceutical products carry appropriate regulatory information before use.
