The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has confiscated 10 truckloads of counterfeit, expired, and falsified drugs at the Ogbo-Ogwu Bridge Head Market in Onitsha, a major commercial hub in Anambra State....CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING.>>
The discovery was made during an ongoing enforcement operation, where NAFDAC officials uncovered large quantities of adulterated medicines hidden within various shops in the market.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!According to the agency, the market serves as a distribution center for repackaged and revalidated expired drugs, which are then sold to unsuspecting consumers.
Speaking on Friday, the fifth day of the enforcement exercise, NAFDAC South-East Zonal Director, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, confirmed that the seized drugs would be transported to the agency’s control facility for further inspection and subsequent destruction.
“We have removed no fewer than 10 truckloads of fake, substandard, and adulterated drugs from the market, including 40-foot containers filled with harmful pharmaceutical products,” Iluyomade stated.
“Some of these drugs carried fraudulent NAFDAC approval claims, which we were able to detect using our specialized scanning and testing equipment.”
He emphasized the dangers posed by the seized drugs, describing them as expired, banned, repackaged, and potentially lethal to consumers.
“These substances can cause severe health complications, including death or permanent disability,” he warned.
“The seizure is part of our commitment to protecting public health and preventing these dangerous products from re-entering the market.”
Iluyomade further revealed that some drug dealers in the market had sophisticated equipment used to alter expiry dates, repackage expired drugs, and falsify product information.
Several suspects were arrested during the raid, and in a shocking revelation, NAFDAC officials turned down a N135 million bribe from market operators attempting to obstruct the operation.
“So far, over 90% of the shops investigated in this market have been found dealing in fake, substandard, or counterfeit drugs,” he disclosed.
“If the full extent of our findings is made public, the entire market could face closure.”
NAFDAC reiterated its commitment to eradicating the sale of harmful pharmaceuticals and urged consumers to remain vigilant when purchasing medications.
