Customs begin nationwide destruction of seized fake drugs
The Nigeria Customs Service on Thursday began the nationwide destruction of over 100 containers of illegally imported pharmaceuticals.
The exercise started with the incineration of five 40-foot containers of seized pharmaceuticals at Alaro Dumpsite in Epe, Lagos State.
Speaking during the event, the Assistant Comptroller General of Customs in charge of Investigation and Enforcement, Mr Timi Bomodi, disclosed that Lagos alone has 88 containers slated for destruction, with the operation set to proceed to Port Harcourt, where 20 containers await disposal.
“This exercise cuts across the federation. We are starting here in Lagos, specifically with about 88 containers. We will also be going to Port Harcourt, where we have over 20 containers. Then we will be going to Calabar, and after that, Kano, which involves purely pharmaceutical containers. So, it’s not just a one-day exercise,” Bomodi explained.
Bomodi, who also chairs a committee set up by the National Security Adviser to oversee the identification, isolation, evacuation, and destruction of illegally imported pharmaceuticals, emphasised the critical importance of the operation to public health and national security.
According to him, a multi-agency approach is being deployed to tackle the menace of unapproved pharmaceutical imports effectively.
“It’s not just the Customs, even though we play a leading role in the clearance of imported items. It’s everybody’s duty, including members of the public, because these items are offensive, fake, unregistered, and pose a serious challenge to the health and well-being of Nigerians,” he stated.
The ACG also highlighted that some of the seized pharmaceuticals have been linked to criminal activities, including kidnapping and other forms of crime.
Bomodi added that agencies such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency are collaborating to ensure those involved in such illicit trade are held accountable.
“Beyond the destruction of these items, there are ongoing prosecutions. Several cases are in court, and some individuals are being prosecuted for these illegal activities,” he said.
When asked about the origins of the seized imports, Bomodi refrained from attributing the problem to a specific country. He noted, “We don’t want to point fingers at any particular country. Those involved in such business constantly modify their tactics to evade regulatory scrutiny.”
Also speaking, Commodore Kelechi Ogbonna, representing the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, reiterated the government’s commitment to ridding the nation of fake and expired pharmaceuticals.
“When it comes to illicit, substandard, and contraband pharmaceuticals, the NSA is very passionate about ensuring such items are completely removed from circulation due to their harmful nature,” he said.
Ogbonna affirmed that the destruction of these pharmaceuticals is part of a broader effort to protect the health and safety of Nigerians.
