Customs Impounds Container With Expired Drugs

The Ports and Terminal Multi-Services Limited, PTML, of the Nigeria Customs Service has seized a container loaded with expired drugs, imported by a Non Governmental Organization, NGO, from Maryland, USA.

Briefing newsmen in Lagos, Area Comptroller of PTML Customs, Mr. Folorunsho Adegoke, said the container was heading to a medical mission in Imo State and was discovered by an officer of the command while examining its contents.
On handling over the container to the Ports Inspection Manager of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Adegoke said the container was declared as personal effects, but on examination it was discovered to contain expired drugs, medical devices and other personal items.
He stressed that some of the drugs had expiry date of April 2010, some in 2011, while the least expired on April 30, 2014.
He said: “If these drugs are allowed to go out, they might be harmful to people that will consume them, hence the need for the seizure and then transferred to appropriate sister agency, NAFDAC.”
The Ports Inspection Manager of NAFDAC, Mrs. Ebigbayi Maureen, while receiving the container, commended customs for its corporation and information sharing with nafdac.
She said: “In our lists of items that could be imported, there is no drug with expiration date less than 2015, on this basis approval is given. Also, no item is allowed to come into the country with less than six months shelve life.”
With the corporation of customs and other agencies, she assured that none of the items would go into circulation, adding that the impounded container would be placed under laboratory evaluation at nafdac headquarters in Lagos.