Nigeria Customs Sokoto: NAFDAC Drug Handover Exceeds •5.8M

• The Nigeria Customs Service Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command handed over unregistered pharmaceutical products valued at over ₦5.8 million to NAFDAC.
• The seizure, which included anti-cold drugs, amodiaquine, paracetamol, and quinine, occurred along the Illela-Sokoto Road following intelligence.
• Importing these products violates Section 55 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and NAFDAC regulations.
• Acting Customs Area Controller Haliru Isah Abdullahi warned smugglers against illegal trade, emphasizing the command's commitment to public health.
• NAFDAC State Coordinator Abdulsalam Lawal praised the Customs' collaboration, highlighting its importance in protecting Nigerians from harmful medicines.

Lawyers and compliance officers in the pharmaceutical sector must ensure strict adherence to NAFDAC registration requirements and Section 55 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 for all imported drugs, as inter-agency enforcement against unregistered products is active and leading to significant seizures, particularly in border areas like Sokoto.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command recently transferred a significant consignment of unregistered pharmaceutical products to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Sokoto. This Nigeria Customs NAFDAC drug handover Sokoto involved items with a total Duty Paid Value exceeding ₦5.8 million, specifically calculated at ₦5,804,062.06. The purpose of this transfer is to facilitate further investigation and ensure appropriate regulatory action against the illicit drugs.

Deputy Comptroller Haliru Isah Abdullahi, who serves as the Acting Customs Area Controller for the Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command, confirmed that the seizure originated from an interception by Customs patrol teams. These teams acted on credible intelligence to stop the products along the critical Illela-Sokoto Road drug interception route. The handover ceremony itself took place at the command headquarters in Sokoto on a Wednesday, marking a formal step in the ongoing efforts to curb the circulation of unauthorized medicines.

Among the seized items were 360 packages of anti-cold drugs, 500 packages of amodiaquine, 140 packages of paracetamol, and 100 packages of quinine. This Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command drug seizure underscores the command's commitment to protecting public health by preventing harmful substances from entering the market. Haliru Isah Abdullahi Customs emphasized that such actions are integral to safeguarding the well-being of citizens.

The importation of these NAFDAC unregistered pharmaceutical products constitutes a clear violation of established legal and regulatory frameworks in Nigeria. Specifically, the Acting Customs Area Controller, Haliru Isah Abdullahi, highlighted that such activities contravene Section 55 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, alongside existing NAFDAC regulations. This dual legal breach underscores the gravity of dealing in unauthorized medical supplies.

The Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 Section 55 provides the legal backing for Customs to intercept and seize goods that do not meet national standards or are prohibited. Coupled with NAFDAC's mandate to regulate and control the manufacture, importation, exportation, advertisement, distribution, sale, and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, bottled water, and chemicals, the legal environment is robust against illicit drug trade. This framework aims to ensure that only safe and effective pharmaceutical products are available to the public.

Lawyers and compliance officers in the pharmaceutical sector must ensure strict adherence to NAFDAC registration requirements and Section 55 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 for all imported drugs, as inter-agency enforcement against unregistered products is active and leading to significant seizures, particularly in border areas like Sokoto. The warning issued by Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi to smugglers and dealers reinforces the zero-tolerance stance of the authorities against any trade that endangers public health.

The successful interception and subsequent Nigeria Customs NAFDAC drug handover Sokoto exemplify the critical role of inter-agency collaboration in combating the illegal movement of pharmaceutical products. The partnership between the Nigeria Customs Service and NAFDAC is fundamental to protecting public health from potentially harmful, unregistered medicines. This synergy ensures a comprehensive approach to enforcement, from border control to regulatory oversight.

Abdulsalam Lawal NAFDAC, the State Coordinator for NAFDAC in Sokoto, publicly commended the Customs Service for its unwavering efforts and collaboration. He stressed that this ongoing partnership is indispensable for ridding the country of unwholesome pharmaceutical products. Lawal affirmed NAFDAC's commitment to strengthening this alliance, ensuring that all seized pharmaceutical products undergo the necessary regulatory processes to prevent their re-entry into circulation.

Both agencies recognize that sustained cooperation is the most effective strategy to prevent unregistered pharmaceutical products from reaching consumers. The commitment from both Haliru Isah Abdullahi Customs and Abdulsalam Lawal NAFDAC highlights a unified front against illicit drug trade, aiming to safeguard the health of citizens and uphold the nation's economic integrity by ensuring a regulated and safe pharmaceutical market. This collaborative model serves as a deterrent to those engaged in illegal activities.

Lawyers and compliance officers in the pharmaceutical sector must ensure strict adherence to NAFDAC registration requirements and Section 55 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 for all imported drugs, as inter-agency enforcement against unregistered products is active and leading to significant seizures, particularly in border areas like Sokoto.

Source: Original reporting via PUNCH newspaper