Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Wednesday, handed over 1,198 cartons of illicit drugs and consumables seized at the Nigerian border to officials of the National Agency for Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Sokoto.

The NCS comptroller in charge of the Sokoto-Zamfara area command, Musa Omale, handed over the drugs and solicited increased synergy among security operatives and Nigerians to rid the country of smugglers.

Mr Omale said unchecked drugs coming into the country were a threat, given the cases of drug abuse and related crimes in the nation.

He said illicit drugs posed a severe threat to the security and safety of citizens as well as severe threats to public health, security and social harmony.

He said the seized items included contraband sex-enhancing tablets, expired consumables and drugs that were smuggled through illegal routes.

He assured NAFDAC of the command’s support for its fight against counterfeit drugs. He warned smugglers to desist from the act, saying the command was battle-ready to curtail the nefarious activities.

The comptroller said, “For control, the importation of pharmaceutical drugs through the land border is not allowed. The NCS has streamlined the importation of all pharmaceutical drugs through designated seaports and is only cleared after meeting the pre-requisite documentation.”

Mr Omale explained that the exercise aligned with the collaboration policy thrust of the Comptroller General of Customs, Mr Bashir Adeniyi, and sought sister agencies’ greater collaboration toward safeguarding public health and the nation’s economy.

The Sokoto NAFDAC coordinator, Garba Adamu, thanked the customs for the synergy and collaboration toward safeguarding the life and health of Nigerians. 

(NAN)