The Nigeria Customs Service Western Marine Command, Ibafon, Apapa Lagos, has handed over expired Drugs to the National Agency For Food Drug Administration And Control (NAFDAC).
Addressing Press Men at the Command, the Acting Customs Area Controller, Western Marine Command, Deputy Comptroller Enonche Ochiba, revealed that the expired drugs were intercepted by the Command’s Patrol Team while on credible intelligence along Abumbum-Ojo Waterways on Wednesday, 15th of September, 2021.
The Seized drugs had expired on 27th April 2007 and they were uncertified by NAFDAC.
Enonche listed the drugs as follows.
a. 817 Bottles of B-Vital
b. 1,158 Bottles of Kordy-Capsule.
c. 3,110 Bottles of Double Ginseng.
d. 619 Bottles of Detoxin
e. 607 Bottles of B-care
f.198 Sachets of Ninhuang Jeedu pian..
g. 1,200 Sachets of St.Formula..
h. 475 Bottles of Apetamin Syrup.
i. 7 Bottles of Spinsure Tablets.
j. 17 Bottles of Danshen Plus.
k. 7 Bottles of Arthro Capsules.
l. 13 Bottles of Spinsore Pill.
m. 123 Bottles of Chitomeal.
n. Bundles of printed labels of Double Ginseng with Batch no. DG 04021 with MFG Date: 29/04/2021 and expiring Date of 28/04/2024.
The expired drugs have a street value of Sixty Two Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety Four Naira..( #62,252,794.00).
The Deputy Comptroller said the seized items contravene Schedule 3 of Revised Import Prohibition List (Trade) item 14 Waste Pharmaceutiques of Common External Tariff. He also said, the drugs are unused and contaminated pharmaceuticals, which if not intercepted, would have caused great havoc to the Society.
“I mentioned during the last meeting, that the smugglers intended to replace the expired labels with labels carrying new manufacturing and expiry date as it can be seen on the bundles of printed labels of Double Ginseng accompanying the seized consignment. The newly printed label is carrying 29/04/2021 and 28/04/2024 as manufacturing and expiry date respectively” He stated.
Reacting to the “Handing Over” the Director of Investigation and Enforcement NAFDAC, Barrister Kinsley Ejiofor ably represented by Mr Yahaya Abdulmojeed said, dealing with expired drugs has become a nightmare for NAFDAC. He also reiterated that expired drugs are useless as it’s no longer active but harmful to the Health.
“Nigeria Customs Service has worked in great collaboration with NAFDAC and we will continue to appreciate the great collaboration with the Service.” He said.
Ochiba also said the Seizure shows the desperation of Smugglers to acquire wealth without considering the health implications of the expired drugs on Society.
“It is in the spirit of inter-agency collaboration that I am handing over the seized expired drugs to the Director, NAFDAC Investigation and Enforcement as directed by the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd).
“Let me warn the unscrupulous elements to desist from smuggling because smuggling is a serious crime, when left unchecked would have a negative effect on our Economy. I want the Smugglers to know that the Operatives of the Command would leave no stone unturned until they meet their waterloo”. The Area Controller reiterated.
