Customs intercepts fake drugs, cosmetics, others worth N120m in two months
By Seun Ibiyemi
The Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘C’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized fake and contraband products worth over N120 million in July and August 2021.
Comptroller Yusuf Lawal who announced this, on Monday, in a statement signed by the Unit Spokesman, Jerry Attah, listed the goods to include 130 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice valued at N5,460,000m and 2,181 cartons of foreign cosmetic products without any registration number from the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) valued at N76,335,000 intercepted along the Okada/ Benin expressway.
According to him, the cosmetic products include 457 cartons of Simple Sensitive Skin Expert; 790 cartons of Facial Wash, 232 cartons of Carotone Cream, 574 cartons of various brands of cosmetics and 128 cartons of Revlon Almay Godess Gloss.
Other seized items are 440 cartons of Artesunate injection zensunate without NAFDAC number worth N8,580,000million that was intercepted along the Okada – Benin expressway, 449 cartons of fan pop sweets worth N7, 485,000 million intercepted along the Lagos – Benin expressway and 161 jumbo bales of used clothing valued at N22,500,000million that were intercepted along the Enugu-Port-Harcourt expressway.
The Comptroller who urged Nigerians to be wary of fake and smuggled products said that they are not only hazardous to human health but also to the economy of Nigeria.
He added that his men and officers are fully prepared and equipped to combat all nefarious activities of smugglers especially with the festive ember months by the corner.
He thanked sister agencies as well as the media and the Comptroller-General, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali for their holistic support to the Service and pledged to continuously checkmate the activities of smugglers in line with his constitutional mandate so as to reduce smuggling in the zone to its barest minimum.
“We urge Nigerians to confirm the quality of a product before purchasing it for use because so many medicinal and cosmetic products are being smuggled into the country without a NAFDAC number.
“Those who use non-NAFDAC certified cosmetic products stand the risk of skin cancer just as those who consume antimalarial drugs without a NAFDAC number are only experimenting with their lives.
“Our men and officers are fully prepared to face smugglers head-on especially during the ember months in line with our mandate; we will leave no stone unturned,” he said.
He further said that the importation of foreign rice is against the federal government’s agricultural policies and warned that smugglers will never have a filled day.
He urged Nigerians to cooperate with the service as it continues to block all leakages, thwart antics of smugglers and sanitise the country irrespective of whose ox is gored.
