Lagos, Nigeria — In a sweeping crackdown on pharmaceutical smuggling, the Murtala Muhammed Airport Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted illicit drugs valued at over ₦5.1 billion, marking one of the largest seizures in recent history.
Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Michael Awe, disclosed the operation during a press briefing, attributing the success to coordinated intelligence and sustained surveillance in collaboration with other agencies.
Although no suspects were arrested, the contraband has been handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation.
The intercepted consignments—originating from India and Canada—were disguised as household items, including duvets, and smuggled through Nigeria’s busiest airport.
Among the seized substances were: 121 packs of Canadian cannabis (₦1.188 billion DPV); 294,000 tablets of Tramadol Hydrochloride (225mg) (₦1.389 billion DPV), Pregabalin tablets (300mg) (₦1.188 billion DPV), Norflex tablets (50mg) (₦800 million DPV), Sardalud tablets (2mg) (₦495 million DPV).
Customs officers traced the shipments to multiple airway bills and import sheds, uncovering deceptive rebranding tactics such as falsely labelling dangerous substances as 50mg Diclofenac sodium.
Comptroller Awe warned that such mislabeling poses grave health risks to unsuspecting consumers and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to disrupting smuggling networks.
“This seizure sends a clear message—Nigeria’s airports will no longer be safe havens for drug traffickers,” Awe declared, emphasising the importance of inter-agency collaboration and intelligence-led operations.
NAFDAC’s Assistant Director, Kelechi Nwude, described the bust as “mind-blowing,” vowing that criminal networks exploiting trade loopholes would be exposed and dismantled. She pledged intensified surveillance and stricter pharmaceutical regulations to ensure only certified medicines reach Nigerian pharmacies.
The operation underscores the growing synergy between Customs, NAFDAC, and NDLEA in protecting public health and securing Nigeria’s borders against illicit trade.
