The National Agency for Food, Drug, Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has impounded fake drugs valued at N500 million in Lagos.
The Director General of the agency, Prof. Paul Orhii, stated this at a news conference on Monday in Lagos while parading two drug suspects.
He said that the consignments of fake drugs were imported through NAHCO Shed at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The NAFDAC Director General said that the drugs were imported from Hong Kong, China aboard Qatar Airlines between May 8 and May 27 on five different flights with the five different consignments totaling 54 large packages.
He noted that the drugs were belonged to Bubic Nigeria Ltd, Lagos.
The two suspects paraded are Mr Paulinus Ejike and Mr Chika Obiekie who would soon be charged to court.
“The fake drugs intercepted are anti-malaria and antibiotics which are life saving drugs.
“The drugs include lonart-DS, Lincocin capsule, Artesunate, Ampiclox 500mg, Persidon, Fungal 200mg, Septrin tablets, Postinor 2, Perilon tablets B.P 5mg and Tetanus antitoxin refined 1500 international unit.
“This is a new dimension in our duties to safeguard the health of the nation by incepting, destroying and arresting as well as prosecuting the fake drug importers and suspects,“ Orhii said.
He noted that it would be difficult for the public to identify the fake products because some of the drugs had NAFDAC numbers and hologram, adding that every Nigerian was a potential victim.
Orhii noted that the importers had consistently imported the fake drugs in collusion with their counterparts in China in a syndicate manner.
He added that the importers evaded the police and airport authorities in China, linking up with their associates at the tarmac of the MMIA.
The NAFDAC Director General said that the seizure of fake drugs and its destruction without prosecution of the suspects had been a worrisome issue for NAFDAC.
“I am working with my Chinese counterpart to arrest some operators and fake importers in China.
“Our investigation has revealed that goods shipped in by the airline containing the fake drugs are intercepted at the bulk breaking area of the tarmac and later declared missing.
“The importer, later returns to make claims for missing cargo from the airline. With these discoveries, the mysteries of missing cargoes and unidentifiable importers of fake drugs may have been solved.
“With the cooperation of the Chinese authorities, the airline and security agencies, this incessant importation of fake drugs by the clandestine syndicate has been broken.
He said that the agency had reviewed it laws and would soon present them to the National Assembly for approval.
Orhii noted that under the new laws, fake and counterfeit drug dealers when arrested would face life in prison and confistication of assets.
He urged the public to give the agency tip-offs on the activities of fake drugs manufacturers or importers in their communities.
According to him,NAFDAC will reward any member of the public handsomely “whenever they give us tip-offs on fake drugs importers in their areas.“ (NAN)
