Again, Apapa Customs Command seizes N3.3 billion pharmaceuticals, stolen cars, others

The Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has again recorded seizure of another contraband items barely a month after the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC),  Adewale Adeniyi, showcased over a trillion Naira items seized by the command.

The duty paid value of the items showcased by the CCG was over a trillion Naira while the ones displayed on Thursday, May 22, 2025 by the Command’s Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, was N3,247,427,969.00.

While displaying the seized items at Apapa Port in Lagos, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu said as a result of painstaking efforts, his officers uncovered six containers laden with  prohibited  items  mostly  unregistered pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, used clothing and two vehicles illegally imported into the country.

The Controller, who also attributed the seizure to collaboration with other government agencies, listed the seizure into three categories.
Category  1
Container No.SUDU 8685733 (40FT) was found to contain 1,698  of  RTPL  CSC  Cough  syrup  with  codeine  concealed   in  202 packages of water closet.

Container No.MRSU 4846204 (40FT) was found to contain 1,690 cartons of codeine syrup concealed in toilet seat.The two seizures have a street value of N2,710,400,000.00.

“Interestingly, these  two   containers  were  intercepted as a   result of international collaboration as well as local networking with officers and men of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),” said Olomu.

Category  2
Container  No.ONEU  1153150 (40 FT) found to contain 1,584 packages  of  Globatin   anti-marks and 30g   Clobetasol   cream   falsely declared as Truck tyres.

Container No.MRSU 3258823 (40  FT) was found to contain Rabeprazole,for injection, 25mg Zahifranil tablets,1000mg vancomycine hydrochloride, ciprophetadine with vitamin B     complex, and other  pharmaceutical  products  without   NAFDAC registration number, falsely declared as kitchen wares and tables.
Category  3
Container  No.MRKU 0904594 (40FT) was found to contain two stolen vehicles from Canada.A 2024 model Lexus RX 450 vehicle with chassis number JTJCJNGA6R2017707 and another 2023 Lexus RX 350 with chassis number 2T2BAMCAPCO32741 falsely  declared  as food  items.

While container No.SEKU 4716830 (40 FT) was found to contain 390  bales of used clothing which contravenes the  import prohibition law.

According to Olomu, “therefore, while we facilitate trade, collect revenue for government, the NCS owe the Nigerian people the duty of protecting them from dangerous imports that are injurious to their health and wellbeing.

“As officers at the nation’s   largest, busiest and premier port, we are determined to avoid making Nigerians vulnerable to the selfish interests of merchant of death whose stock in trade is to bring in harmful substances like the ones I shall be showing you today.We also intercepted two cars stolen from Canada that was attempted to be smuggled into Nigeria like I mentioned earlier on.

“In  addition to  contravening  the  Nigeria  Customs  Service  Act  2023, these imported containers with  prohibited  medical  items  also violate the World Customs Organization’s Operation Stop IV -which is a global enforcement operation  against  trafficking  of  counterfeit,substandard  and  unauthorized medical supplies.”

Comptroller Babatunde Olomu said three suspects were arrested in connection with these seizures and were at various stages of interrogation to face the full wrath of the law.

He informed that the command recently crossed the one trillion- naira collection before the end of the fifth month, saying “we have so far generated a total of #1,094 trillion as at 21 May 2025.

“This collection confirms our trajectory and laudable antecedent of meeting and surpassing our target. Like we have done before,we are ready to do better this year

“Our chronicle of outstanding revenue collection speaks boldly for us and attests  to  our  capacity  to  do   more. For instance, in  October  2024, we collected  #18.2   billion; on March 14,2025, we  recorded  a  feat  of N18.9 billion and on 20 May, 2025, we made another record-breaking collection of N18.919 billion. All these were groundbreaking daily collections.”

He warned that Apapa Port would remain a no-go area  for any  unlawful  activity and “our  officers  are  very  much  ready  to uncover concealment and effect seizures or arrest where necessary.”