Bauchi (Nigeria): The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bauchi/Gombe Area Command, has destroyed a consignment of expired drugs seized in line with legal provisions and regulatory guidelines.
Mr Bello Sani, the Area Controller of the Command, made this announcement during the destruction exercise held on Wednesday in Bauchi.
He said the harmful pharmaceutical products, with a Duty Paid Value of N17 million, were intercepted and seized while being smuggled into the state.
According to him, officers of the command intercepted and seized the expired pharmaceutical products in different parts of the state before organising their destruction.
Sani said that this was in line with continued efforts of the command to safeguard public health and prevent dangerous drugs from re-entering the market.
He further said that the Comptroller-General of Customs approved the destruction exercise, and that the command carried it out in strict compliance with Part XIV, Section 119(4) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act.
Sani explained that the command conducted the destruction in the presence of relevant regulatory and security agencies, including the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), to ensure transparency, accountability, and adherence to public health and safety standards.
He stated that after their confiscation, the expired pharmaceutical products were kept in the government warehouse until final destruction, preventing them from re-entering the market.
“The destruction of these expired drugs is necessary to ensure they do not find their way back into circulation where they could pose serious health risks to members of the public,” the comptroller of customs said.
He reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service to enforcing import regulations, safeguarding the pharmaceutical supply chain and collaborating with relevant agencies to ensure that only safe and approved products were brought into the country.
Items destroyed during the exercise included 50 cartons of Ringer Lactate containing 30 pieces each, 197 packets and one piece of Meninal Sildenafil Citrate tablets (100mg).
Others are 105 packets of Viagra Sildenafil tablets (200mg) used for erectile dysfunction, 22 packets of Viagra 180mg tablets, as well as 157 packets and four pieces of Chest and Lungs tablets.
Also, Dr Lami Abdul-Salam, representative of NAFDAC, commended the Customs Service for the successful destruction of the expired pharmaceutical products.
She said the action demonstrated strong collaboration among regulatory agencies to protect public health.
Abdul-SaShe urged traders and importers to strictly follow pharmaceutical regulations. He warned that dealing in expired or unregistered drugs poses serious risks to citizens.