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From Tunde Omolehin, Sokoto
Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Sector 4 Joint Border Patrol has intercepted unregistered and expired pharmaceutical products along Illela border of Sokoto State.
Controller of the Sector North West Zone Mr Kolapo Ayodeji, at a press briefing in Sokoto while handing over the seized drugs to NAFDAC officials for onward destruction, said that the unregistered drugs were found in a truck at Kajiji, Shagari Local Government Area of the state.
He dislosed that upon the examination of the truck, unregistered 300,000 packets of sex enhancement drugs were found.
“This seizure contravened both Nigeria Customs Service ban on the importation of pharmaceutical products through the land border without approval and further contravened NAFDAC laws as they do not have NAFDAC registration numbers,” he stated.
He noted that most of the seized pharmaceutical products have expired and worth N19.62 million.
He reiterated the commitment to fight smuggling under any guise, saying that “those trying our resolve will continue to meet their water-loo as we remain resolute at ensuring adequate surveillance of our borders.”
The Custom boss disclosed that the command also seized 35 Jerrican of 25 litres of premium motor spirit at Illela border in line with ECOWAS sanctions on Niger Republic.
He further reinforced his earlier pledge to adopt new strategies that would boost trade while enforcing the nation’s anti-smuggling laws along the borders in the North West zone.
He stated that the food scarcity experienced in the country is as a result of illegal smuggling of food stuff to the neighbouring countries.
Mr. Ayodeji maintained that NCS has deployed technology in tracking smugglers who are bent in sabotaging Nigeria economy.
