Cosmetics without NAFDAC number causes skin cancer: Customs

The service said it seized 2,181 cartons of foreign cosmetic products worth N76.3 million.

News Agency of Nigeria • September 20, 2021

NAFDAC office used to illustrate the story

Nigeria Customs Service says that users of non-NAFDAC certified cosmetic products stand the risk of skin cancer.

The comptroller of Unit Zone ‘C’ in Imo State, Yusuf Lawal, made this known through the spokesperson of the zone on Monday.

The zone’s spokesperson, Jerry Attah, added that the service intercepted fake and contraband goods worth more than N120 million in July and August in its federal operations.

The unit covers Abia, Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Rivers, Edo, Delta and Akwa Ibom states.

The seized contraband goods were 2,181 cartons of foreign cosmetic products worth N76.3 million, 440 cartons of Artesunate zensunate injection worth N8.6 million and foreign sweets worth N7.5 million.

Others were 130 bags of 50kg foreign rice valued at N5.5 million, and 161 jumbo bales of used clothing valued at N22.5 million.

There were also 457 cartons of Simple Sensitive Skin Expert; 790 cartons of facial wash; 232 cartons of Carotone cream; 574 cartons of various cosmetic brands and 128 cartons of Revlon Almay Goddess Gloss.

Mr Lawal said the cosmetic products, Artesunate injection and sweets did not have NAFDAC registration numbers.

“The cosmetics products, sweets and injection were intercepted on Okada-Benin Expressway, while the bales of used clothing were intercepted on the Enugu-Aba-Port-Harcourt expressway,” he said.

Mr Lawal urged Nigerians to be wary of fake and smuggled products which were not only hazardous to human health but the country’s economy.

He said that the importation of foreign rice was against the federal government’s agricultural policy and vowed that smugglers would never have a field day.

“We urge Nigerians to confirm the quality of products before buying them because so many medicinal and cosmetic products are being smuggled into the country without NAFDAC numbers.

“Those that use non-NAFDAC certified cosmetic products stand the risk of skin cancer just as those who consume antimalarial drugs without a NAFDAC number are toying with their lives.

“Our officers and men are fully prepared to face smugglers head-on. We will leave no stone unturned,” the comptroller was quoted as saying.

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