The Acting Customs Area Controller, Halliru Abdullahi, said the seizure was made in line with existing inter-agency collaboration and the directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi.
Abdullahi handed over the seized drugs to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Wednesday in Sokoto.
“In line with the existing inter-agency collaboration and the directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs, we formally hand over seized unregistered pharmaceutical products to officials of NAFDAC for further investigation and necessary action,” he said.
Abdullahi said that the items were intercepted by gallant patrol teams along the Illela-Sokoto road, following credible intelligence and the commitment of the officers.
He said the seized items included 360 packages of anti-cold containing 50 cards each with 4 tablets per card, and 500 packages of Amodiaquine containing 25 cards each with 3 tablets per card.
Others are 140 packages of Paracetamol containing 100 cards each with 10 tablets per card and 100 packages of Quinine containing 10 cards each with 10 tablets per card.
He said that importation of the unregistered drugs contravened Section 55 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and NAFDAC regulations.
Abdullahi warned that such drugs pose great danger to the health of Nigerians as they are not certified for consumption.
“Let me use this opportunity to warn smugglers and those who deal in such unwholesome products that Sokoto/Zamfara Command, under my watch, will not tolerate any form of smuggling.
“We remain vigilant and committed to safeguarding the health of citizens and the nation’s economy,” the area controller said.
He commended the officers who made the seizure possible for their diligence and bravery and appreciated NAFDAC for the continuous partnership.
Receiving the items on behalf of NAFDAC, the State Coordinator of NAFDAC in Sokoto, Mr Abdeslam Lawal, expressed appreciation to the NCS for the seizure and the sustained collaboration between the two agencies.
“On behalf of the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, and the entire management, I express my sincere appreciation to the Nigeria Customs Service for the wonderful collaboration we have been enjoying,” he said.
Lawal noted that the collaboration between NAFDAC and the NCS is the only way to rid the country from the circulation of unwholesome products.
“We sincerely appreciate this giant efforts of your men and pray to see more of this collaboration between the two organisations,” he said.
