Chukwu Obinna 
BAUCHI, Nigeria – Nigerian Customs officers have destroyed expired pharmaceutical products worth ₦17 million in Bauchi after intercepting the illegal medicines during anti-smuggling operations across the state.
The destruction exercise took place Wednesday under the supervision of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Area Controller in Bauchi, Bello Sani, who says the action is part of ongoing efforts to curb the circulation of harmful drugs.
According to Sani, operatives seized the expired products from different locations before transferring them to a government warehouse pending final disposal, which was authorised by the Comptroller-General of Customs under Section 119(4) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act.
“The destruction of these expired drugs is necessary to ensure they do not find their way back into circulation where they could pose serious health risks to members of the public,” Sani says.
The seized items include 50 cartons of Ringer Lactate solution, 197 packets of Meninal Sildenafil Citrate tablets, 105 packets of Viagra Sildenafil 200mg tablets, 22 packets of Viagra 180mg tablets and 157 packets of Chest and Lungs tablets.
Officials warn that if the products had reached consumers, they could have triggered serious medical complications.
Representatives of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) monitored the destruction to ensure transparency.
NAFDAC representative Lami Abdul-Salam praises the collaboration and warns traders against dealing in expired or unregistered medicines.
“Handling expired pharmaceutical products endangers lives and violates public health regulations,” she says.
Customs authorities say the operation demonstrates their commitment to tightening surveillance of the pharmaceutical supply chain and ensuring smugglers of dangerous medicines face prosecution.
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