Customs in Sao Tome and Principe seized 438,111 units of various drugs last week, including undeclared cigarettes, at the port of Ana Chavez, an official said Tuesday.
According to Deputy Chief of Customs Esther Diaz, among the drugs seized on Thursday are antihistamines, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamins, analgesics, antifungals in boxes from Angola.
“The medicines arrived in a 20-foot container, inside the container there were also various goods, as well as cigarettes, detergents and food,” Esther Diaz explained.
The official explained that there are 61 boxes of drugs and 60 boxes of undeclared cigarettes in total.
“Since these are conditionally imported goods and there are signs of counterfeiting and smuggling, procedures are also being carried out for competent participation in the prosecutor’s office in order to take appropriate criminal actions and measures,” Alfandegas said in a Facebook post.
The authorities emphasize that, under the provisions of the current legislation, “drugs for commercial purposes can only be imported through pharmacies or wholesalers duly certified by the pharmaceutical department of the Ministry of Health, since the health of the population and people’s lives are at stake.”
Last month, customs seized 96,126 “doubtful pills” at Sao Tome International Airport, also from Angola, without proper authorization from the Ministry of Health.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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