Declaring fake drugs as worse than people carrying ammunition and kidnapping, the Controller said “Anybody carrying fake drugs is an enemy of the country; the seizures we have made are very huge.
The Nigeria Customs Service has announced the interception of fake pharmaceuticals with duty paid value of N1.4 billion at its Oyo-Osun Area Command.
The Oyo-Osun Area Controller, Dr Ben Oramalugo, who disclosed this on Wednesday, while briefing reporters, said the intercepted pharmaceutical products were mainly antibiotics packed in sacks with duty paid value.
Oramalogu, according to the News Agency of Nigeria, said the drugs were among other items intercepted by the operatives of the Command, while described the pharmaceutical seizure as very huge.
Declaring fake drugs as worse than people carrying ammunition and kidnapping, the Controller said “Anybody carrying fake drugs is an enemy of the country; the seizures we have made are very huge.
“If we have allowed these fake drugs into the country, a lot of people would have fallen victim,’’ he said.
Also seized by the command, Oramalugo said were - 345 (50kg) bags of rice, 53 sacks of used clothing, and shoes and 1,309 pieces of used tyres.
Other seizures were 344 (25kg) kegs of petrol, 61 bottles of vegetable oil and 34 cartons of smuggled wines.
He, however, vowed that the Customs Service would intensify its fight against smuggling and enforce Federal Government’s policy on total border closure.
“We are committed to facilitating trade in essential commodities and supporting Federal Government’s efforts to enhance food security.
“All borders within the command’s area of responsibility are still closed. We shall remain vigilant to prevent smuggling of items that could compromise the well-being of Nigerians,’’ he said.
Among other achievement of the Area Command, Oramalugo said was collection of N5.6 billion in revenues in February raising the total so far collected in 2024 to N12.4 billion.