Tincan Customs Safeguards Public Health with Expired Drug Seizure
…Hand Over 3 Containers to NAFDAC
Author: Abass Quadri.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Tincan Island Port Command, has reinforced its anti-smuggling campaign to safeguard public health by seizing and handing over three containers of expired pharmaceutical products to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Speaking during the handover exercise on Friday, 6 February 2026, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, attributed the interception to the vigilance and dedication of officers at the Command.
“The containers were found to contain expired tramadol tablets. Upon examination, one container held 86 cartons of Vingil Tramadol BP 50mg, while the other contained 250 cartons of the same product”, Onyeka said.
He disclosed that the third container was discovered to contain 370 cartons of expired Diclofenac Sodium BP 50mg tablets without a valid NAFDAC registration number, making the shipment illegal and unsafe for public consumption.
“Our Command remains resolute in intercepting prohibited and falsely declared goods, including controlled pharmaceuticals, arms and ammunition, narcotics, and other items capable of endangering public safety and economic stability”, he added.
The seized pharmaceuticals were subsequently handed over to NAFDAC officials for further regulatory action.
Receiving the items, NAFDAC’s Chief Regulatory Officer, Investigation and Enforcement, Kareem Taiwo, commended the collaboration between the two agencies, describing it as vital to protecting Nigerians.
“We cannot do it alone. Our priority remains protecting the nation’s health, and we will ensure that only safe and wholesome products reach the public”, Taiwo said.
The latest seizure follows a recent operation in which the Tincan Island Port Command handed over cannabis sativa valued at over ₦4.5 billion to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), underscoring ongoing inter-agency efforts to curb the importation of illicit goods into the country.
