For the second time in the year, the Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted fake pharmaceutical products with a duty-paid value of N596,856.5 million.
The Area Controller, Dr Ben Oramalugo, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing journalists at the Command headquarters in Ibadan.
Tribune Online learnt that the truck conveying the pharmaceutical products was intercepted at the Iwere Ile axis in Oke Ogun, Oyo State.
Included in the fake drugs were analgin injections, amoxicillin capsules, buscomac tablets, chloramphenicol tablets, ampicillin capsules, juscopan tablets, arthromether tablets, fulcin tablets, and pentazocine injections.
The comptroller informed the journalists that the driver was arrested but later granted bail.
Other smuggled goods that were intercepted were 433 pieces of 50-kilogram bags of foreign parboiled rice, 61 bales and 20 sacks, 25-litre kegs of 8,850 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), 49 sacks of cannabis sativa, 93 pieces of used tyres, all with a duty-paid value of N159,040,200 million.
The intercepted fake drugs and cannabis sativa were handed over to officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) officers.
Speaking further, the Comptroller said that the area command generated a total revenue of N23,974,543,014.49 billion in the third quarter of the year.
According to him, the generated amount reflected a 27.5 per cent increase on that of the same period in 2023, which was N17,377,387,591.90.
Cumulatively, N56,656,828,685.30 billion was generated from January to September this year, with a notable increase of 7.85 per cent when compared to that of 2023, which totalled N52,206,458,966.50 billion.
This, he said, underscores the command’s commitment to collecting efficient revenue through improved compliance, enforcement and monitoring.
Dr Oramalugo added that it was a remarkable achievement in spite of the current financial strains affecting businesses and citizens.
He spoke on the enhanced use of technology, especially NICIS II, which allowed the streamlining of processes and increased transparency.
He commended the dedication of the command officers in ensuring strict compliance with Customs rules and regulations while facilitating legitimate trade.
While recognising the pivotal role being played by the officers in the nation’s economic recovery, the Comptroller expressed commitment to continuing upward trajectory in revenue generation.
The NAFDAC Director, South West Zone, Mrs Roseline Ajayi, in her remarks, said that proper follow-up regulatory actions would be taken on the confiscated items, which include the destruction of the drugs and the prosecution of the suspect.
The director expressed appreciation to Oyo/Osun Customs, saying that it would be the second time such fake, counterfeit, and substandard falsified products would be handed over to NAFDAC in the year.
She disclosed that among the seized items are analgin, which was banned several years ago, and pentazocine, which is a controlled substance.
The director said that NAFDAC has the responsibility to give an account of the international and country-controlled drugs and their distribution as they come into Nigeria.
She said that the public destruction of the items would soon be carried out in the South West, saying “We don’t want them to be re-injected into the system.”
The NDLEA Officer, Abogunrin Olatunji, a Chief Superintendent of Narcotics, said that the seized cannabis sativa would be destroyed publicly after applying to the Federal High Court for approval.
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