The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded huge success as its operatives intercepted fake pharmaceuticals valued at N1,739,000,000.00.
The NCS Area Controller, Oyo/Osun Area Command, Dr Ben Oramalugo disclosed this on Thursday at the 2024 second press conference held at the operational headquarters of the command in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
He stated that the drugs were part of a larger assortment seized by the command’s operatives.
Oramalogu emphasised to journalists that the pharmaceutical confiscation was substantial, suggesting that the drugs could pose an even greater danger than light arms and ammunition.
“Anybody carrying fake drugs is an enemy of the country; the seizures we have made are very huge.
“If we have allowed these fake drugs into the country, a lot of people would have fallen victim,” he said.
Among the seizures made by the Oyo/Osun command were 345 (50kg) bags of foreign parboiled rice with a DPV of N24,218,000.00; 344 (25 liters) kegs of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) with a DPV of N5,728,500.00; four wraps (4 kilograms) of Cannabis Sativa with a DPV of N126,000.00, and 1,309 pieces of used tyres with a DPV of N70,140,000.00.
Other contraband seized by the command, according to Oramalugo, included 34 cartons and five bottles of foreign wine with a DPV of N6,231,206.00; 40 bottles (five liters) and 21 bottles (one liter) with a DPV of N1,760,000.00 and N99,225.00, respectively. The command also stated that it seized 45 sacks and eight sacks/nine bales of used clothing and shoes with a DPV of N42,720,000.
Health Crisis – Tackling Counterfeit Medicines in Africa
The proliferation of fake medicines in Africa is a serious public health crisis that must not be ignored. According to industry estimates, the global trade in counterfeit pharmaceuticals is worth up to $200 billion annually, with Africa being one of the regions most affected.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), between 2013 and 2017, 42% of all reported fake medicines were from Africa. However, these figures rely on reporting mechanisms from national or regional regulatory authorities, which may vary in accuracy due to surveillance, and reporting systems in different countries, as well as funding and corruption.
In West Africa, several recent significant seizures highlight the magnitude of the problem. According to accounting firm PwC, in some countries, the proportion of fake pharmaceuticals can be as high as 70%, particularly in developing regions like Africa. The WHO estimates that one out of every 10 medical products in low – middle income countries (mostly Africa) is either substandard or fake.
An Interpol-led operation across seven West African countries seized over 420 tonnes of illicit pharmaceutical products in 2017. In 2018, Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, and Sierra Leone seized up to 19 tonnes of counterfeit medicines. Smugglers in Ivory Coast were also intercepted in 2019 while attempting to bring in 12 tonnes of counterfeit pharmaceuticals from Ghana.
The impact of fake drugs is severe. For instance, substandard and fake anti-malarial drugs alone could be causing an additional 116,000 deaths annually in sub-Saharan Africa, with an average cost of $38.5 million to patients and health systems.
The challenge lies in detecting and preventing counterfeit medicines from entering Nigeria, especially given that over 70% of drugs in Nigeria are imported, mainly from India and China, which are both major sources of counterfeit medicines.
Efforts by government agencies such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) aim to combat this menace and safeguard the health of Nigerians. However, addressing the issue requires continued vigilance, funding, regulation, and international cooperation.
WHO believes an issue also exists with the cost of drugs in poorer countries. “If a good quality medicine from a known supplier is too expensive, people may try a cheaper one from an unlicensed supplier,” the WHO says.
Reducing or subsidising prices of licensed drugs, however, is not a guaranteed solution. Low-priced medicines can still provide enough profit margin for criminals as long as sales volume is high enough.
Nonetheless, technological solutions will continue to serve as an important tool in tackling the problem. Some already in use in certain regions include mobile apps to help users verify medicines, scratch stickers, barcodes and other means of identification printed on medicine packaging.