Adeniyi Raises Alarm Over Increased Smuggling Sophistication Targeted At Nation’s Ports

…As Apapa Customs Intercept Drones, Pharmaceuticals, Others, Valued At ₦921,021,213

 BY FUNMI ALUKO

The Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi has cried out regarding what he described as a rising incidences in the sophistication of smuggling tactics  by  international syndicate targeting  Nigerian ports for their nefarious activities.

According to the helmsman of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), management have also identified clear but disturbing patterns deployed by the syndicate in carrying out their target economic and national security assault which includes deliberate false declaration tactics, diversification of contraband portfolio,  and strategic country of origin selection.

Adeniyi showcasing some of the seizures wtih Olomu, assiting

Adeniyi who was addressing the maritime media yesterday, Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at the Apapa Customs Command, also lamented a disturbing trend regarding the use of pharmaceutical sexual stimulants. The CGC notes that while the misuse of sexual enhancer elixir can prove potential injurious to health; he disclosed that the rise in the unlawful import of these sexual medications is very disturbing.

Speaking on the activities of the nation’s premier port customs command, Adeniyi reiterated the resolve of the Service to continue to respond appropriately to all identified threats connected with importations.

“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 our border security architecture and circumvent established import protocols.

“The service has documented with concern the increasing sophistication of smuggling tactics targeting our 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”, he said.

On the issues of aggravated threats relating to offensive trading and lack of relevant authorization in pharmaceutical import, he said: “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 and present danger to public health, with potential to cause significant morbidity and mortality if permitted to infiltrate our domestic markets. The Nigeria Customs Service, in exercise of its statutory mandate, has therefore escalated its risk assessment protocols at all points of entry.”

Some of the seized drones and walkie-talkies

He disclosed that out of eleven containers intercepted by the Apapa Customs Command, five were laden with questionable pharmaceutical products.

“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: Five (5) units of 40-foot containers, Two (2) units of 20-foot containers, and Four (4) additional seizures of loosely concealed contraband items. The 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).”

Giving a further breakdown, the customs boss said the contraband are in three principal categories.

The seized container of expired margarine

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.

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 technology and telecommunications devices imported without requisite End-User Certificates from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) as mandated by the National Security Agencies Act.

Also giving an overall breakdown of the seizures made by the Apapa Area Command, Adeniyi listed the following:

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.ICOHERBALINHALER,andDR.ICOPAINRELIEF OIL without  NAFDAC  Registration numbers. Duty Paid Value: ₦142,296,505.

40FT Container No. TCNU 6880130. Contained 242 cartons of COLCAPS-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 NCSAct 2023.

40FTContainerNo.UETU6679312.Contained1,400 packages of ORIGINAL CHEST & LUNGS, VITAPLUS (BIG BOOTYTABLETS), CYPROHIPTADIN WITH B-COMPLEX TABLETS without NAFDAC Registration numbers. Duty Paid Value: ₦145,023,204.

40FT Container no.TCKU6930113. Contained 805 PACKAGES OF GBOGBONISE SKIN CREAM and 536PACKAGES OF SKIN CHEMIST CREAM without NAFDAC Registration numbers, falsely declared as1, 341packages 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.”

Others include 20ft Container with registration No. GCNU1372704 containing expired margarine products with a Duty Paid Value of ₦120,113,043, with various brands of drones impounded for lack of End-user certificate.

The drones include 60 units of warrior drones, 53 units of different helicopter drones; in addition to 10pcs of professional FM transceiver walkie-talkie. The CGC said all the impounded listed items have been seized in line with extant laws.

According to the CGC, management has upon meticulous analysis of the above seizures identified a number of significant patterns that warrants 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: We 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.

 Speaking on the threats posed by these offensive imports to Nigeria’s economic and security sovereignty, Adeniyi identified the following:

 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.

He however expressed confidence in the capacity of the NCS together with its sister agencies support, to continue to rise up to the occasion and to defend the commonwealth against all criminal economic threats to the country and its citizens.

“Reference is hereby made to our 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 our enforcement capabilities.

“As documented in our 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 our 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 our broader enforcement statistics. During Q1 2025, the Service recorded a total of 22 narcotics interceptions with a cumulative Duty Paid Value of ₦730,748,173, representing a 34.6% increase over the corresponding period in 2024”, he said.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun has expressed satisfaction with the Service’s progress, while urging management on the need to scale up efforts to meet the country’s economic demands.

Edun who was speaking at the 62nd regular meeting of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Board held on Tuesday, April 29 2025, at the Service’s Headquarters.

“As is expected and required, there is an improvement in the revenue of the Service, which is slightly above what was budgeted for the first quarter. However, much more is required, and more is expected of an institution that is pivotal in revenue.”

The Minister who led a high-powered delegation to assess the Service’s first-quarter performance and chart the path forward, steered the meeting to evaluate the Service’s operational strategies, fiscal contributions, and reform-driven activities, particularly in light of its Q1 2025 performance.

During the quarter, the NCS recorded a historic ₦1.75 trillion in revenue, exceeding its target by ₦106.5 billion and marking a nearly 30% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

The Apapa Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu fsi, who showed the CGC around the seizures was also the Zonal Coordinator, ACG Charles Obih.