The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Port Harcourt Area I Command, led by Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku has handed over a 40-foot container of expired pharmaceutical products valued at over ₦50 million to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further regulatory action and safe destruction.
The handover ceremony took place in Port Harcourt, Rivers State after the interactive session of the Maritime Correspondence Organisation of Nigeria (MACRON) Conference
Speaking at the event, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku, said the seizure reflects the Command’s firm resolve to curb the importation of expired, substandard and harmful pharmaceutical products into Nigeria.
According to a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, B. Aanee, the expired drugs were intercepted during a joint examination involving officers of the Port Harcourt Area I Command, NAFDAC, and other relevant agencies.
Comptroller Atuluku explained that on June 22, 2026, officers at Shed III inspected a 40-foot container bearing number MRSU 3199206, which arrived from the United States.
The container was discovered to contain 606 cartons of Ibuprofen capsules, 173 cartons of Donepezil Hydrochloride tablets, 266 cartons of Subvenite tablets, and other expired pharmaceutical products with a Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) value exceeding ₦50 million.
She noted that the interception averted what could have become a serious public health threat, stressing that expired medicines pose significant risks to consumers.
“The success of this operation reflects the Command’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that only safe, genuine and properly regulated pharmaceutical products are allowed into the country,” she said.
The Customs Area Controller warned importers and criminal networks against using the Port Harcourt Area I Command’s jurisdiction for the importation of expired or prohibited pharmaceutical products, adding that the Command would remain vigilant.
She reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s borders from the entry of harmful and prohibited goods while also ensuring smooth trade facilitation.
Comptroller Atuluku also commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the Customs management team for their leadership, intelligence-driven enforcement approach, and support for inter-agency collaboration.
Receiving the seized items on behalf of NAFDAC, the Deputy Director, Port Inspection Directorate, Pharm. Adepoju Bayo Raufu, praised the Nigeria Customs Service for its vigilance, professionalism, and continued partnership in preventing unsafe pharmaceutical products from reaching the public.
He assured that NAFDAC would immediately commence regulatory procedures for the safe destruction of the expired drugs in line with existing laws and environmental safety standards.
Also speaking, the NAFDAC Zonal Director for the South-South Zone, Pharm. Chukwuma Oligbu, described the handover as a clear demonstration of the strong collaboration between NAFDAC and the Nigeria Customs Service.
He commended Comptroller Atuluku and her officers for their dedication to public safety and called for sustained cooperation among security and regulatory agencies to combat the importation and circulation of expired, substandard, falsified and unsafe medicines.
The event concluded with the formal transfer of the seized pharmaceutical products and accompanying documentation from the Nigeria Customs Service to NAFDAC for appropriate regulatory action and environmentally safe disposal.
Stakeholders at the ceremony praised Comptroller Atuluku’s leadership and collaborative efforts, urging continued commitment to sanitising operations within the Command and improving efficiency.
The handover reaffirmed the shared resolve of the Nigeria Customs Service and NAFDAC to strengthen border security, protect public health, and ensure that only safe and properly regulated pharmaceutical products are allowed into the Nigerian market