Business

Customs reveals success of MoU with 10 administrations, seizes arms and pharmaceuticals worth over ₦10 billion

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Controller General of the Nigerian Customs service(NCS) Comptroller Adewale Adeniyi has reiterated that the Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) it entered with the Indian Customs Administration, 10 other customs administrations and collaborative intelligence efforts contributed in the seizure of 16 containers containing arms, ammunition, unregistered and prohibited pharmaceutical products.

Making the disclosure on Monday at the Apapa Customs Command Port Examination Bay, Comptroller Adeniyi stated that they were able to achieve the feat by accessing correct information, intelligence and deployment of the right technology.

Dr. Olakunle

That just like the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Director of Ports and Inspection, Dr. Olaniran Olakunle revealed that it has laboratory agents in India and China, Customs has working relationship with Indian Customs and ten customs administrations for collaboration and Intelligence gathering.

Delivering his speech, the Nigerian Customs boss praised his men and thier sister agencies for the synergy thus far.

Adeniyi maintained that having too many security operatives at the ports and airports at the same time poses a major challenge, “rather than rely on number, we now rely on inteligence, on information and synergy between the agencies on joint operation which has paid off,” he said.

Giving a rundown of the seizure CGC Adeniyi stated thus,

“Barely three weeks ago, I was here to hand over some seized pharmaceutical products to the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) with a similar exercise carried out in Onne last week.

“These preventive anti-smuggling activities, aside from being part of our core mandate, also strengthen our inter-agency relationship and uphold the signed MoU with NAFDAC and robust synergy with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).”

The Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation, Adeniyi revealed that the seizures included prohibited drugs, expired medicaments, expired food, and other items that violated import prohibition guidelines, including arms and ammunition.

“These smuggled items have a harmful effect on the health and wellbeing of unsuspecting Nigerians who would have consumed them in addition to causing insecurity in the country,” he said.

He stressed that the NCS remains committed to blocking illicit and harmful medical imports at all entry points.

“It is important to once again reiterate that the NCS is ever committed to rid Nigeria of illicit and harmful medical importation by breaking their supply chain as we ensure they don’t go beyond our seaports, airports and land borders into our commercial ecosystem,” he said.

Despite repeated warnings and enforcement efforts, the CGC noted that “the people I call merchants of death have chosen Apapa Port as an entry point for prohibited items. As usual, they failed to pull through.”

Adeniyi who vowed to continue confronting smugglers, saving lives of innocent and unsuspecting Nigerians as well as protecting the economy however vowed:

“We are resolute to confront these people who do not mean well for Nigerians and the economy by ensuring our entry points are not used for their unlawful acts.”

The CGC disclosed that operatives at Apapa Port, with the support of internal intelligence and other government agencies, intercepted multiple consignments, including three containers of expired margarine, three containers of used clothes, and five containers of expired drugs, prohibited medicaments, and Colorado hemp.

“On July 24, 2025, during a joint physical examination with the NDLEA, a 40ft container (MRSU 6407089) was found to contain 202 cans of Colorado Loud cannabis from Canada, each weighing 500 grams and totaling 101kg. The same container also concealed two pump action rifles, 25 cartridges of ammunition, one Smith & Wesson pistol with 55 rounds of ammunition, one blank, and other accessories.”

“The bill of lading for the shipment had falsely declared the contents as three Toyota Sienna vehicles and one Toyota Camry, with the consignee listed as Babatunde Ogidiolu Samuel.

Two suspects – Mr. Modi Azuka of No. 1 Miracle Street, Ago Palace Way, and Mrs. Lisa Akpedeme were arrested in connection with the Canadian Loud and weapons. They are currently undergoing interrogation.”

Other seizures included: A 40ft container (OERU 4243517) with 1,290 sacks of frozen chicken breast, 40ft container (FBIU 5507953) also containing 1,290 sacks of frozen chicken breast, 40ft container (ZCSU 7277511) with 305 cartons of toothpaste without NAFDAC registration, cartons of slippers concealed in 46 cartons of beads, and 40 cartons of jalabiya.

Also two containers (1x40ft and 1x20ft) with 2,401 cartons of codeine syrup. Two more suspects linked to the smuggled poultry products were also apprehended.”

For the arms, ammunition, and drugs, the CGC said:”The two suspects shall be handed over to the NDLEA and DSS for further investigation and prosecution while the other two held for the poultry products shall be handed over to NAFDAC.”

Additional seizures included a 40ft container (CAIU 4979294) with CSP codeine syrup and another 40ft container (MRKU 3738603) containing 1,100 cartons of expired chest and lungs tablets without NAFDAC numbers. Seven other containers were also seized, comprising expired margarine, used clothing, expired feed, and cyproheptadine tablets without NAFDAC registration.

The Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized items stood at ₦10,273,694,595.

The CGC reaffirmed the Service’s determination to protect Nigeria’s economy and public health:

“Our vow to protect the national economy, the well-being of citizens and residents of Nigeria remains unshaken. Let me once again warn that the NCS, with the support of our strategic partners, will keep delivering uncompromising enforcement backed by intelligence to detect and seize prohibited items.

“Therefore, perpetrators of these unlawful acts and their collaborators will also not be spared by the long arms of the law whenever our investigation gives clue about their complicity in these criminal activities.

“Criminal elements who are determined to make our country a hub for destructive substances will always have our operatives to contend with. For us, this is a full-scale resistance and arrest session for them, and we are not ready to give up on this. We will run them out of business into jail.”