The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 11 containers loaded with contraband goods including unregistered sex-enhancement drugs, expired food items, and high-grade drones valued at over ₦921 million in duty-paid revenue at the Apapa Ports between January and April 2025.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed the seizures during a press briefing in Lagos on Wednesday, where the confiscated items were showcased. The containers included five 40-foot units, two 20-foot containers, and four other shipments of concealed contraband items.
Adeniyi described the seizures as a serious national security and public health concern, stating that five of the containers were packed with unregistered pharmaceutical products, primarily sex-enhancement pills, which he warned could result in fatal health consequences if allowed into public circulation.
“These items pose a clear threat to public health. Most of them lack National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) registration and were falsely declared as cosmetics or general merchandise,” he said.
Breakdown of Seized Items:
Container 1: 89 cartons of unregistered pharmaceutical products
Container 2: 242 cartons of similar unapproved drugs
Container 3: 1,001 cartons of hydra-sildenafil citrate tablets
Container 4: 1,400 packages of unregistered chest and lungs beta plus big booty tablets
Container 5: 805 packages of drugs falsely declared as cosmetic powders
Two 20-foot containers: Expired margarine products and 60 warrior drones (worth ₦15.9bn)
Additional seizures: 53 helicopter drones, 10 high-grade FM transceiver walkie-talkies, and more expired items
Adeniyi stressed that the lack of End User Certificates from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for the intercepted drones and communication devices constituted a direct breach of national security regulations.
“Controlled technology like drones and encrypted communication devices are classified imports. Without proper clearance and documentation, their presence in the country could pose risks beyond just commercial smuggling,” he said.
Contraband Categories Identified:
Unregistered pharmaceutical products (73.7% of total seizure volume)
Expired food items with compromised safety profiles
Controlled equipment imported without ONSA clearance
Adeniyi also raised concerns over a growing trend of false declarations noting that some pharmaceuticals were hidden among cartons of skin creams and personal care products.
“This is no longer random smuggling. What we’re seeing is a sophisticated operation with structured concealment techniques. These are organised networks diversifying their contraband portfolios,” he said.
The CGC assured that Customs is working closely with agencies such as NAFDAC, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and ONSA, under Memoranda of Understanding and joint enforcement strategies, to curb these threats.
In his remarks, Director of Ports Inspection at NAFDAC Olakunle Olaniran, confirmed that several of the seized drugs carried fake or cloned registration numbers. One confiscated item, he revealed, was intended for coal treatment but fraudulently labeled with a NAFDAC number originally assigned to tramadol.
Another intercepted substance was falsely marketed as a mental health drug but lacked any legitimate pharmaceutical formulation or traceable manufacturing origin.
Adeniyi concluded by stating that Customs remains committed to protecting Nigeria’s borders against the influx of unregulated pharmaceuticals, expired goods, and illegal tech, all of which pose multidimensional risks to public health, consumer safety, and national sovereignty.
