The Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted 11 containers carrying unregistered s3x enhancement drugs, expired foodstuffs, and other contraband worth N921bn at Apapa Ports between January and till date.
The Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, who disclosed this while addressing journalists on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, stated that the 11 containers comprised five 40-foot containers, two 20-foot containers, and four additional seizures of loosely concealed contraband items.
He explained that out of the 11 seized containers, five were carrying sex-enhancement drugs, adding that the items constituted a clear danger to public health with the potential to cause significant mortality if permitted to infiltrate the domestic markets.
Giving details of the seizures, the CGC explained that the first 40ft container had 89 cartons of unregistered pharmaceutical products, while the second 40ft container carried 242 cartons of unregistered pharmaceutical products.
“The third 40ft container had 1,001 cartons and packages of hydra-sildenafil citrate tablets. These are also lacking requisite NAFDAC registrations. The other 40ft container had 1,400 packages of chest and lungs beta plus big booty tablets, also unregistered. The fifth 40ft container had 805 packages of unregistered products.
“This one was falsely declared as a cosmetic powder. Then we also have a 20-foot container which has expired margarine products. We have another 20ft container which has expired margarine products, 60 units of warrior drones,” Adeniyi explained.
He emphasised that the intercepted drones loaded in one of the containers with a duty paid value of N15.9bn lacked the End User Certificate from the Office of the National Security Adviser.
“We also intercepted another 53 units of different helicopter drones. These drones were intercepted for lack of an End User Certificate and it has a duty-paid value of N2.1m. We have 10 pieces of professional FM transceiver walkie-talkies. These are communication devices evacuated for lack of End-User Certificates,” he said.
Adeniyi warned that the disturbing trend in the importation of unregulated sexual performance drugs poses serious health risks, including potential cardiovascular complications and harmful drug interactions when used without proper medical supervision.
According to him, all the items fall into three different categories adding that the first category which constitutes 73.7 per cent of the total seizure is that of unregistered pharmaceutical products lacking mandatory National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control registration numbers and certification, “which is a direct confirmation of Section 28 of NAFDAC Act, Cap N-1, laws of the Federation, and this constitutes 63.7 per cent of the total seizures that we have today, more than half of them.”
He mentioned that the second category is expired food items with compromised safety profiles that pose an imminent danger to public health if introduced into the consumer market in violation of the food products registrations and regulations and the Pre-shipment Inspections of Exports Act.
Adeniyi highlighted that the third category is that of controlled equipment, including drone technology and telecommunication devices imported without the requisite End User Certificates from the Office of the National Security Adviser.
He raised the alarm over what he described as a sophisticated pattern of wrong declaration, where importers deliberately classify pharmaceuticals as general merchandise or cosmetics.
Adeniyi stressed that two containers had this pharmaceutical but were concealed with skin creams to hide them from customers
He stated that the seizures revealed that importers are diversifying their contraband portfolios, combining pharmaceuticals, food items and control technology in systematic shipments.
Adeniyi said that the development suggests the emergence of organised networks with sophisticated capabilities rather than isolated smuggling attempts that we used to have.
He, however, said that in terms of inter-agency collaboration, the service is working with critical regulatory agencies, including but not limited to NAFDAC, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, and the Office of the National Security Advisor
“This collaboration operates under established Memoranda of Understanding and joint operational frameworks that have demonstrably enhanced our enforcement capacities.
“As documented in our joint operational report of January 2025, the nexus between unregistered pharmaceuticals, controlled substances, and national security infrastructures continues to present a multi-dimensional threat matrix to our sovereignty,” he said.
Also speaking, the Director of Ports Inspection at NAFDAC, Dr. Olakunle Daniel Olaniran, confirmed that some of the seized drugs carried fake registration numbers and posed serious health risks to unsuspecting Nigerians.
He said one of the confiscated products was intended for industrial use in coal treatment but was fraudulently branded with a NAFDAC registration number originally issued for another product, which is the widely known pain medication, tramadol
He said another intercepted product was falsely marketed as a mental health medication but lacked any legitimate pharmaceutical identification.
