NAFDAC Raids Warehouses, Seizes Drugs, Beverages Worth Over N3.bn
NAFDAC DG, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye
The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NADFAC) in her quest to ensure total elimination of Fake, Expired, Substandard, Banned, Adulterated and Falsely Labelled Medical Products, other Unsafe and Unwholesome NAFDAC Regulated Products from circulation, raided two warehouses in Lagos State and confiscated fake, adulterated drugs, beverages and dairy products worth over N3 billion.
Director-General, NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, made the disclosure on Friday while briefing the media on the activities of the Agency in Lagos.
According to her, the officers of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate of NAFDAC and the Federal Task Force on Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods raided two warehouses at the TradeFair Complex in Lagos, where multiple cartons of banned drugs including 10 cartons of Tafradol (Tramadol 225mg) were found.
Other products confiscated during the raid include 1,200 cartons of banned Analgin Injection (2.5g/5ml), 2,200 cartons of banned Codeine in Syrup, suspected fake 500 cartons of Azmal; Artemeter Injection, 534 cartons plus 300 packets of Biomal: Artesunate Injection, 188 cartons of Hydra and Black Cobra (silderzafil citrate 200mg), 198 cartons of Super Artesunate Injection among others, were discovered and evacuated.
She said the banned and falsified drugs were found in the warehouses owned by one Mr Chuka Akajiobi (Akuamia), who is still at large, is estimated to be worth over three billion naira.
In order to deal with the incidence of Food Fraud, NAFDAC DG said the Agency is carrying out raid operations with tremendous success already recorded in the area of forfeiture of unwholesome processed cereals, beverages, and dairy products.
Prof. Adeyeye said “In the nationwide raid which commenced in July 2021, seven (7) trucks conveying 4,578 cartons of various unlabeled, transparent nylon packed cereals worth over 60 million naira (N60, 000,000) were confiscated by the Agency.
“The sources of these various falsely packed cereals and dairy products cannot be verified and therefore NAFDAC cannot guarantee the safety of the products for consumption.
“During one of our operations, a suspect declared that the CocoPops, CornFlakes and Oats being displayed for sale in transparent nylons were sourced from LAWMA waste disposal trucks before repackaging into transparent nylons.
She warned the public not to purchase cereal or other products that have been removed from their primary packaging so as not to jeopardize their health, adding that the Agency is particularly pained because infants and children are the target and the ultimate victims of such wicked and evil activities.
The DG said the Agency has also commenced the raids of markets and supermarkets with the aim of mopping up unregistered NAFDAC products in response to credible intelligence indicating that importers are smuggling into the country unregistered Regulated Products during this festive period and enjoined consumers to ‘shine their eyes’ when making purchases of products and should not patronize roadside and street vendors.
She said the Agency on Wednesday, November 10, 2021 arraigned one Mr. Afemefuna Udensi of Phini Pharms Limited, Onitsha, at the Federal High Court, Lagos for importing fake Tramadol.
The defendant, she added, imported a fake version of the registered brand. Investigation also revealed that the fake drugs were imported from China.
“The Agency has also observed that some fake and counterfeit products are brought into the country through a system known as “Groupage”. This is a system where more than two persons load containers with different items from the country of origin. It is collectively cleared and distributed to the owners of the items. This system aids and abets counterfeiting. The Agency has found that controlled, banned, and unregistered Regulated Products are usually concealed and brought into the country through this arrangement.
Prof Adeyeye solicited the cooperation of the public, corporate bodies, religious leaders, traditional rulers, health practitioners, gentlemen of the press and all stakeholders in their effort to rid the nation of fake and unwholesome products.
