 has destroyed 64 containers of illicit pharmaceuticals in Rivers State as part of its ongoing efforts to combat the illegal drug trade.){kind=link}
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has destroyed 64 containers of illicit pharmaceuticals in Rivers State as part of its ongoing efforts to combat the illegal drug trade.
The destruction, which took place at the RIWAMA dumpsite in Aluu, was overseen by Timi Bomodi, the Assistant Comptroller General of Customs for Enforcement, Inspection, and Investigation.
Bomodi explained that the 40-foot containers, which had been seized over time, were valued at billions of Naira and had been imported into Nigeria from various countries.
He emphasized that the coordinated efforts of the Nigeria Customs Service, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) had led to the successful confiscation.
“These containers, with an estimated market value running into hundreds of billions of Naira, pose serious risks to public health and safety. This action is a clear message to those involved in smuggling illicit drugs to cease their illegal activities,” Bomodi said.
He also pointed out that the operation was a joint initiative, with the Office of the National Security Adviser coordinating efforts to ensure proper evacuation, isolation, and destruction of the illicit drugs.
Commodore Kingsley Ogbonna, representing the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, reiterated the government’s commitment to permanently removing counterfeit and expired drugs from the market.
He stressed the importance of a multi-agency approach in curbing the illegal trade.
“This operation is a key part of our broader strategy to eliminate substandard medications and substances of abuse from circulation. The NSA is fully committed to ensuring that these items are destroyed and do not pose a further threat to the public,” Ogbonna said.
This destruction operation is part of Nigeria’s national effort to combat the growing problem of counterfeit and illegal drugs that jeopardize public health across the country.