The Port Harcourt Area I Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has formally handed over a seized consignment of expired pharmaceutical products, valued at a Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF) amount exceeding N59 million, to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for regulatory handling and disposal.

The expired medicines were intercepted on June 22, 2026, during a joint examination involving Customs, NAFDAC, and other security agencies at Shed III of the Port Harcourt Port. The consignment arrived in a 40-foot container (number MRSU3199206, declaration number C No. 354) originating from the United States. The container held 606 cartons of Ibuprofen Capsules, 173 cartons of Donepezil Hydrochloride Tablets, 266 cartons of Subvenite (Lamotrigine) Tablets, and 103 cartons of Lansoprazole Delayed Release Capsules, among other medical items.

Speaking at the official handover ceremony, the Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku, highlighted the critical danger posed by the illicit shipment and emphasized the agency’s commitment to protecting the public from compromised medical supplies.

“Expired medicines are not merely ineffective; they pose serious health risks to consumers. The use of such products can result in treatment failure, drug toxicity, worsening of existing medical conditions, antimicrobial resistance and, in some cases, loss of lives,” Atuluku said.

Atuluku warned that the Nigeria Customs Service would not tolerate attempts by criminal networks or unscrupulous importers to use Nigerian maritime ports for importing expired, substandard, falsified, or prohibited pharmaceuticals. She noted that such actions constitute a direct threat to public health, national security, and the healthcare system. The Area Controller further praised the leadership of Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for promoting intelligence-driven enforcement and inter-agency collaboration across the nation’s ports.