The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized contraband gadgets valued at over N921 billion in simply 4 months, in accordance with an announcement by Comptroller-Normal Bashir Adeniyi on Wednesday.
Talking on the Apapa Command in Lagos, Adeniyi disclosed that between January and April 2025, Customs operatives executed 11 interdiction operations that resulted within the confiscation of varied banned gadgets, together with expired meals merchandise, unregistered prescribed drugs, and restricted safety tools.
Among the many seized items had been 5 40-foot containers, two 20-foot containers, and 4 shipments of loosely hid contraband. Probably the most alarming finds included massive volumes of unregistered sexual enhancement medication, expired margarine, and high-grade surveillance drones missing authorities clearance.
“This degree of interdiction displays not solely our enhanced operational capability however the rising sophistication of smuggling syndicates concentrating on Nigeria,” Adeniyi stated, including that the seizures symbolize a 34.6% improve in duty-paid worth over the identical interval final 12 months.
Customs additionally intercepted 1,001 cartons of hydra-sildenafil citrate tablets, 89 cartons of pharmaceutical merchandise in container CAAU6514500, and a further 1,400 unregistered drug packages hidden in one other container. Officers revealed that a number of the containers had been falsely declared as holding beauty merchandise or normal merchandise to evade detection.
Safety-related seizures included 60 fight drones and 53 helicopter drones present in separate containers, together with superior communication tools reminiscent of FM transceivers. This stuff, officers stated, had been introduced in with out the required end-user certification from the Workplace of the Nationwide Safety Adviser a authorized requirement for importing delicate safety instruments.
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Adeniyi warned that the surge in unregulated pharmaceutical imports, particularly sexual enhancement medication, poses vital public well being dangers.
“Indiscriminate use of such substances with out medical supervision may end up in extreme well being issues, together with cardiovascular points,” he stated.
He outlined 5 rising traits fueling the illicit commerce: the proliferation of sexual enhancement medication; widespread mislabeling of imports; the bundling of prescribed drugs with different banned gadgets; exploitation of weaker export rules in international nations; and the growing influx of security-grade know-how with out authorities oversight.
Alongside enforcement, Adeniyi highlighted the continuing rollout of the Customs Unified Administration Data System (B’Odogwu), now in pilot at PTML and Tin Can Island Port.
He acknowledged preliminary implementation challenges however affirmed the company’s dedication to bettering digital customs processes via ongoing stakeholder engagement.
The Comptroller-Normal additionally praised the Apapa Command for its vigilance and underscored the Customs Service’s intelligence-led technique and collaboration with companies reminiscent of NAFDAC, NDLEA, and the Nationwide Safety Adviser’s workplace.
As a precaution, the seized containers carrying hazardous substances have been declared restricted areas. Adeniyi urged the general public to report suspicious actions by way of confidential channels and reaffirmed the company’s resolve to safe Nigeria’s borders from transnational smuggling threats.
