By: Manoah Kikekon
KANO, NIGERIA – The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kano/Jigawa Area Command, has intercepted and transferred custody of over 580,000 unregistered pharmaceutical products to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The massive seizure, which took place at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to shield Nigerian consumers from potentially lethal, unverified medications.
The interception, conducted on June 9, 2026, was the result of a highly targeted, intelligence-driven operation at the SAHCO Shed of the international airport. Following the seizure, a joint examination by Customs officials and NAFDAC experts confirmed that the massive consignment lacked the mandatory registration and certification required for legal distribution within Nigeria.
Speaking during the formal handover ceremony at the Customs House in Bompai, Kano, the Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Usman Adamu, provided a breakdown of the haul. The seizure included: 575,440 tablets of various medicaments, 5,415 injections, 1,075 bottles of eye drops, 243 inhaler canisters.
“The interception underscores the commitment of the NCS to protecting public health and strengthening collaboration with regulatory agencies in combating the influx of illicit and uncertified pharmaceutical products into the country,” DC Adamu stated. “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.”
Receiving the items on behalf of NAFDAC, **Azik Kanadi**, Assistant Director in the agency’s Ports Inspection Directorate, commended the Customs Service for their vigilance. He warned importers that the agency remains uncompromising in its stance against unverified drugs, which pose severe risks to unsuspecting patients.
“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,” Kanadi said.
The Kano/Jigawa Area Command has issued a final warning to importers and distributors of pharmaceutical products: the command is intensifying its surveillance and enforcement operations. Customs authorities emphasized that any attempt to bypass regulatory scrutiny will be met with the full force of the law, as the Command continues to prioritize the safety of the public over the profits of criminal syndicates.