Customs, NAFDAC destroy N14.7bn Tramadol, other drugs

TRACKING______Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) commenced the destruction of Tramdol and prohibited/fake drugs worth over N14.7 billion.

Speaking yesterday during the destruction of the illicit drugs at the Oke-Diya dumpsite in Sagamu, Ogun State, Chairman, NCS/NAFDAC Joint Committee on Destruction of Seized Drugs, Victor Dimka, restated the commitment of the Federal Government to suppress the smuggling of drugs and other harmful pharmaceuticals into the country.

Dimka, who is the comptroller in-charge of Enforcement at the Customs Headquarters, Abuja, described the drug seizures made in different parts of the country as a proof of the uncompromising commitment of the NCS and NAFDAC to rid the country of dangerous and fake drugs.

He commended the level of cooperation NCS is getting from NAFDAC, the Nigerian Army and other government agencies in the fight against importation of Tramadol and other dangerous drugs into the country, describing it as a good example of inter-agency collaboration among sister government agencies.

“This particular destruction involving 54 containers of illicit drugs seized by our men is in continuation of the exercise we started on July 24, 2019. After the Lagos exercise, we shall be going to Port Harcourt and Kaduna to continue with the destruction,” he said.

According to him, the quantity of Tramadol and other illicit drugs seized so far by Customs is capable of causing health hazards and damage to addicts who abuse them.

Speaking before the commencement of the destruction, Comptroller General of Customs, who was represented by ACG, Zone A, Mrs. Katharine Ekekezie, blamed importers of the illicit drugs for several drug-induced sicknesses like cancer, renal failure and heart failure.

She urged Nigerians to distant themselves from drugs that are capable of destroying lives and endanger the country while advising importers to bring in things permitted by the law of the land.

Also speaking at the destruction site, the NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, described some of the seized drugs as medicines produced in contravention of approved dosages.

Adeyeye, who spoke through a Deputy Director, Joseph Asikpo, listed their adverse effects on consumers to include contracted pupils, extreme drowsiness, slowed breathing, slowed heartbeat, weak muscles and loss of consciousness which could lead to death.