PREMIER CUSTOMS COMMAND -APAPA SHOCKS THE SMUGGLING WORLD; MAKES N921 MILLION SEIZURES OF HELICOPTER DRONES, WALKIE-TALKIES, UNREGISTERED DRUGS & EXPIRED FOODS
By Timothy Paul Okorocha
Premier Customs command under the able leadership of Compt Babatunde Olomu, fsi today made history with the interception and exhibition of huge seizures worth more than N921 million to journalists in Lagos.
The seizures include drones, fake and unregistered drugs as well as expired food items.
Briefing maritime journalists in Apapa, the Comptroller General, Adewale Adeniyi, MFR commended the Apapa Area controller for a job well done. Other products intercepted are security gadgets like walker-talkie as well as helicopters spares.
The Comptroller General said, pursuant to the National Strategic Economic Development Plan and the Executive Order on Port Operations, the Service has intensified surveillance across all authorized points of entry, specifically seaports, airports, and approved land borders.
This intensification is in direct response to the adaptive methodologies being deployed by transnational criminal networks seeking to compromise their border security architecture and circumvent established import protocols.The Service has documented with concern the increasing sophistication of smuggling tactics targeting their maritime domain, particularly the nation’s premier port facility at Apapa. Intelligence reports indicate an increase in attempts to import prohibited and restricted items through container shipping in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the corresponding period in 2024.Of particular concern is the alarming prevalence of unregistered pharmaceutical products entering our supply chain without requisite regulatory approvals and quality assurance certifications. These items constitute a clear andpresent danger to public health, with potential to cause significant morbidity and mortality if permitted to infiltrate their domestic markets. The Nigeria Customs Service, in exercise of its statutory mandate, has therefore escalated its risk assessment protocols at all points of entry.
REPORT ON SEIZURE OPERATIONS: Pursuant to Section 246 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and in exercise of powers conferred therein, the Apapa Port Command has, between January and April 2025, executed a series of targeted interdictions resulting in the seizure of prohibited and restricted imports.The seizure operations yielded a total of eleven (11) seizures comprising:a. Five (5) units of 40-foot containers b. Two (2) units of 20-foot containers c. Four (4) additional seizures of loosely concealed contraband itemsThe aforementioned seizures have an aggregate Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Nine Hundred and Twenty-One Million, Twenty-One Thousand, Two Hundred and Thirteen Naira (₦921,021,213.00) as calculated in accordance with Service valuation protocols.
The contraband items fall into three principal categories:Category A. Unregistered pharmaceutical products lacking mandatory NAFDAC registration numbers and certification, a direct contravention of Section 28 of the NAFDAC Act Cap N1 LFN 2004 (as amended). These constitute 63.7% of the total seizure value.Category B. Expired food items with compromised safety profiles that pose imminent danger to public health if introduced into the consumer market, in violation of the Food Products (Registration) Regulations and the Pre-Shipment Inspection of Exports Act.Category C. Controlled equipment including drone technology and telecommunications devices imported without requisiteEnd-User Certificates from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) as mandated by the National Security Agencies Act.
BREAKDOWN OF SEIZURES: In line with Service procedure, CG presents the detailed breakdown of these seizures:40FT Container No. CAAU 6514500. Contained 891 cartons of unregistered pharmaceutical products including REDSUN SILDENAFIL CITRATE ORAL JELLY (100MG), ANTI-DOULEUR HUILE (60ML), DR. ICO CYPROPHEPTADINE WITH MULTIVITAMIN TABLET, SAMSON OIL (2ML), ROCKET SILDENAFIL CITRATE TABLET (20OMG), DR. ICO HERBAL INHALER, and DR. ICO PAIN RELIEFOIL without NAFDAC Registration numbers. Duty Paid Value:₦142,296,505.40FT Container No. TCNU 6880130. Contained 242 cartons of COL CAPS-CHLOROPHENIRAMINE-MALEATE CAPSULES (unregistered pharmaceuticals) without NAFDAC Registration numbers. Duty Paid Value: ₦140,101,224.
The container and its contents have been seized and will be condemned according to extant laws.40FT Container NO. MRSU 3041714. Contained 1,001 cartons/packages of HYEGRA SILDENAFIL CITRATE TABLETS 200mg (unregistered pharmaceuticals) without NAFDAC Registration numbers. These were falsely declared as OMEPRAZOLE CAPSULE. Duty Paid Value: ₦143,234,502. The container has been seized in accordance with section 246(g) of the NCS Act 2023.40FT Container No. UETU 6679312. Contained 1,400 packages of ORIGINAL CHEST & LUNGS, VITAPLUS (BIG BOOTY TABLETS), CYPROHIPTADIN WITH B-COMPLEX TABLETS without NAFDAC40FT Container no. TCKU 6930113. Contained 805 PACKAGES OF GBOGBONISE SKIN CREAM and 536 PACKAGES OF SKINCHEMIST CREAM without NAFDAC Registration numbers, falsely declared as 1,341 packages of cosmetic powder. Duty Paid Value:₦141,576,012.
Both the container and its contents have been seized according to section 246(g) of the NCS Act.20FT Container no. GCNU 1367992. Contained expired Margarine products with a Duty Paid Value of ₦120,113,043. The container and expired products have been seized and condemned via Federal High Court suit no. FHC/L/MISC/229/2024 of 6th May, 2024.20FT Container no. GCNU 1372704. Contained expired margarine products with a Duty Paid Value of ₦120,113,043.
This container has also been seized and condemned via Federal High Court suit no. FHC/L/MISC/229/2024 of 6th May 2024.60 UNITS OF WARRIOR DRONE. These drones (seizure No. NCS/INV/APQ/25/0001E of 16/01/025) were evacuated from container no. MSKU 9329923(40ft) for lack of End-user certificate. Duty Paid Value: ₦15,914,681. They have been seized in line with extant laws.53 UNITS OF DIFFERENT HELICOPTER DRONES.
These drones (seizure No. NCS/INV/APQ/25/002E OF 29/01/25) were evacuated from SIFAX III for lack of End-user certificate. Duty Paid Value:₦2,139,928.10 PCS OF PROFESSIONAL FM TRANSCEIVER WALKIE-TALKIE. These communication devices (seizure No. NCS/INV/APQ/25/003E of 15/02/25) were evacuated from ENL for lack of End-user certificate. Duty Paid Value: ₦520,000.20ft Container No. SUDU 1408819. Contained 500 packages of ARTE-PHARMARTEQUICK (ARTEMISININ62.5mg/PIPERAQUANINE 375mg) without NAFDAC Registration number. Duty Paid Value: ₦70,102,114. The container and its contents have been seized according to extant laws.
ANALYSIS OF SEIZURE PATTERNS: Upon meticulous analysis of these seizures, the Service has identified several significant patterns that warrant public attention: Pattern of Sexual Enhancement Drugs. Five of the eleven seizures involved various forms of sildenafil citrate and related sexual enhancement medications.
This is a disturbing trend in the importation of unregulated sexual performance drugs that pose serious health risks, including potential cardiovascular complications and harmful drug interactions when used without proper medical supervision. Strategic Misdeclaration Tactics.
He said they have observed a sophisticated pattern of misdeclaration where importers deliberately classify pharmaceuticals as general merchandise or cosmetics. Container MRSU 3041714 declared sildenafil products as omeprazole capsules, while TCKU 6930113 concealed skin creams as cosmetic powder. This demonstrates calculated attempts to evade regulatory scrutiny.Diversification of Contraband Portfolio.
The seizures reveal importers are diversifying their contraband portfolios—combining pharmaceuticals, food items, and controlled technology in systematic shipments. This suggests the emergence of organized networks with sophisticated logistics capabilities rather than isolated smuggling attempts.Strategic Country of Origin Selection.
Analysis reveals a pattern in the selection of countries of origin, with many consignments originating from jurisdictions with less stringent pharmaceutical export controls. This indicates deliberate exploitation of regulatory gaps in the international supply chain.Escalation of Non-Pharmaceutical Security Threats. The significant number of drone seizures (113 units across two incidents) without proper end-user certificates represents an emerging security concern beyond traditional contraband.
The inclusion of communication devices suggests potential applications beyond recreational use.Financial Scale Analysis. The consistent valuation of pharmaceutical containers between ₦140-145 million per 40ft container indicates a standardized commercial operation with established pricing structures, suggesting these are not opportunistic shipments but rather systematic business operations.
INTER-AGENCY COLLABORATION AND OPERATIONAL CONTEXT: Reference is hereby made to their ongoing strategic partnerships with critical regulatory agencies, including but not limited to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
These formal collaborations operate under established Memoranda of Understanding and joint operational frameworks that have demonstrably enhanced their enforcement capabilities. As documented in their joint operations report of January 2025, the nexus between unregistered pharmaceuticals, controlled substances, and national security infrastructure continues to present a multidimensional threat matrix to our sovereignty. The empirical evidence drawn from their intelligence analysis indicates that these contraband items serve dual purposes: primarily as revenue generators for transnational criminal organizations, and secondarily as operational enablers for non-state actors engaging in activities prejudicial to national security.
The seizures presented today must be contextualized within their highlights the progressive implementation of our intelligence-led enforcement strategy. He convey formal commendation to all officers and men of the Apapa Port Command who, through their vigilance, professionalism, and dedication to duty, successfully executed these interceptions. Their actions are exemplary the core values of the Service as articulated in their Code of Conduct: integrity, professionalism, and patriotism.It is imperative to re-emphasize that the Nigeria Customs Service shall maintain an uncompromising stance on enforcement of import regulations.
We hereby serve notice to all importers, exporters, agents, and other stakeholders within the international trade environment that their intelligence network, technological capabilities, and inter-agency collaborations have been significantly enhanced to detect and intercept prohibited items regardless of concealment methods or documentation subterfuge.
CONCLUSION: The Service has documented a concerning trend of increasing sophistication in smuggling techniques, which necessitates corresponding advancement in their enforcement methodologies.
‘Be assured that we shall deploy all resources at our disposal to ensure that Nigeria’s borders remain secure against the importation of items prejudicial to national security, economic prosperity, and public health’ he said.The Service hereby solicits the continued cooperation of all stakeholders in ensuring compliance with extant import guidelines. He urged members of the public to utilize their confidential channels for reporting suspicious shipments or import activities.
The Service’s collective vigilance remains the most effective deterrent against transnational criminal networks attempting to compromise our borders.