Customs seizes 580,000 unregistered drugs in Kano

By Olayimika Raimi 

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kano/Jigawa Area Command, has intercepted and handed over more than 580,000 unregistered pharmaceutical products to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), in a development that underscores ongoing concerns about the circulation of unsafe medicines in Nigeria.

The seizure, which took place at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, highlights the persistent threat posed by unregulated drug importation and its implications for public health.

Speaking during the handover ceremony at the Customs House in Bompai, Kano, the Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Usman Adamu, revealed that the products were intercepted on June 9, 2026, following intelligence-driven operations by officers of the command.

According to him, the items were discovered at the SAHCO Shed of the airport and subsequently subjected to a joint inspection by officials of the NCS and NAFDAC. The examination confirmed that the pharmaceutical products lacked the mandatory registration and certification required for importation and distribution in Nigeria.

The seized items included 575,440 tablets of various medications, 5,415 injections, 1,075 bottles of eye drops, and 243 inhaler canisters.

DC Adamu emphasized that the interception reflects the agency’s commitment to safeguarding public health and preventing the circulation of potentially harmful drugs.

“The products were found to be unregistered and therefore not approved for circulation in Nigeria. Their interception is part of our ongoing efforts to safeguard the health and well-being of Nigerians,” he said.

He further warned importers and distributors against engaging in the illegal importation of pharmaceutical products, noting that the command would intensify surveillance and enforcement operations to curb such activities.

Public health experts have long warned that unregistered medicines pose serious risks, including treatment failure, drug resistance, and adverse reactions, as they have not undergone proper regulatory evaluation for safety, quality, and efficacy.

Receiving the seized products on behalf of NAFDAC, Assistant Director in the agency’s Ports Inspection Directorate in Kano, Azik Kanadi, commended the Customs Service for the interception, describing it as a critical step in protecting citizens from unsafe medicines.

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Kanadi reiterated that drugs not approved through regulatory processes could endanger lives and undermine healthcare delivery.

“NAFDAC will remain committed to working closely with Customs and other relevant agencies to prevent the circulation of unsafe medicines and ensure that only approved pharmaceutical products are available in the Nigerian market,” he stated.

The latest interception adds to growing efforts by regulatory authorities to combat the influx of illicit pharmaceuticals, a challenge that continues to threaten patient safety and public confidence in the healthcare system.

Stakeholders say sustained collaboration between enforcement agencies and stricter monitoring of drug importation channels are essential to addressing the problem and protecting Nigerians from the dangers of substandard and falsified medicines.