By Alex Akao.

What could have been responsible for the heightening influx of fake, adulterated pharmaceutical imports into the country through the Lagos ports axis?

This was the rhetorical question that pervaded the air, Friday, during a public display of two containers laden with fresh seizures of expired codeine, by Comptroller Eghosa Joy Edelduok, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT), Lagos.

The KLT’s seizure with a duty paid value of N130 million marks the third of such worrisome display of seized deadly drugs by the Nigeria Customs Service within the week, coming on the heels of earlier similar reports at the Apapa premier Port and the Lagos Federal Operations Unit, Monday and Thursday, respectively.

Comptroller Eghosa Edelduok who disclosed that the seizures emanated from India, disclosed that the movement of the consignments had been under the Customs watchlist following an intelligent report.

She identified the forty-foot containers, as HLBU 1067338 and HLBU 2239792, which were later handed over to a representative of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), for necessary action.

She reaffirmed the command’s commitment to applying the law without compromise in order to protect public health.

Comptroller Edelduok who also gave a graphic report of her command’s revenue collection during the first half of the year, disclosed that during the period under review, the Command recorded a total collection of Eighty-Nine Billion, Two Hundred and Five Million, Five Hundred Thousand, Seven Hundred and Forty-One Naira, Eighty Five Kobo (₦89,205,500,741.85) only.

She explained that this figure represented a substantial increase compared to the corresponding period in 2024, which stood at Fifty-Four Billion, Eight Hundred and Six Million, Eight Hundred and Ninety-Three Thousand, Six Hundred and Ninety-Seven Naira (₦54,806,893,697.00).

She added that the difference of Thirty-Four Billion, Three Hundred and Ninety-Eight Million, Six Hundred and Seven Thousand, and Forty-Four Naira, Eighty-Five Kobo (₦34,398,607,044.85)only reflects a 63 percent growth, demonstrating the Command’s enhanced operational efficiency and improved compliance levels.

While lauding the efforts of her men for their steadfastness and dedication to duty, Comptroller Edelduok said her performance was as a result of the encouragement received from the Controller General of Customs (GGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.