Customs intercepts three container loads of fake drugs

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has intercepted three container loads of fake drugs in Lagos.

The service also said it seized cables and other contraband alongside the drugs all valued at over N356 million.

The drugs which include Acipep, Lemdafil and Ciprogyl, were seized by officers of federal operation unit (FOU) zone ‘A’ in Ikeja, Lagos.

Mohammed Garba, area controller of the unit, told reporters that the items were imported into the country.

He said the duty paid value (DPV) of the fake drugs is over N31 million, adding that the importers are currently at large.

He further said the unit seized fourteen containers with a DPV of N104,684,023.7 due to false declaration and breach of customs law.

“After intensifying our operational modalities to meet up with the present smuggling tactics, we have intercepted contrabands with Duty Paid Value of over N356million,” Garba said.

He added that the items, seized between August 29 and October 3, include 11 used vehicles, 4,227 bags of imported rice, frozen poultry products, vegetable oil, Indian hemp, medicaments, used tyres, scrap metals, bales of used clothing and shoes, among others.

He said: “While seven containers carried unprocessed wood, one container carried scrap metals, another carried wet blue (leather) for export. All fall under export prohibition list.

“Three of the seized containers were medicaments without import documents and certification. Two containers carried a purported made-in- Nigeria cables, but were imported from China. The importer declared the item as electric distribution board and ballast. Only God knows what would have happened if these fake products get into our market.

“Also, we have 17 vehicles of various models in detention. The vehicles were evacuated from car marts due to the infraction noticed in their document.

“As I speak with you, the owners have not provided customs papers in respect of some of the vehicles, but we have given them enough room to provide the documents. The vehicles under detention have a duty paid value of N141,877,496.15.”