The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has
arrested a trader, Olisaemeka Osefoh, for importation of counterfeit
medicines into Nigeria.The suspect was also arrested with fake Rough Rider condoms. PUNCH Metro
learnt that the estimated street value of the goods was N106, 210, 000.Some of the drugs seized include, Mycoten cream, Neurogesic ointment and Skineal cream.
In
his statement, the suspect said he was in partnership with a cartel
based in China, where the products were sourced, before being shipped to
Nigeria.
The Director General of the agency, Dr. Paul Orhii, while parading the suspect, said Osefoh was arrested after a tip off.
He
said the suspect had also given investigators information on how the
goods were illegally cleared through Tincan Island Port, Lagos.He
said, “Operatives of NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate
raided a warehouse located at Progressive Traders Market known for the
sales of jewellery and cosmetic products.
During the raid at
Trade Fair Complex, Badagry Expressway, Lagos, 158 cartons of Skineal
cream, 43 cartons of Funbact- A Cream, 719 cartons of Mycoten Cream, 131
cartons of Neurogesic ointment, 56 cartons of Rough Rider Condoms, 20
cartons of Iman Luxury Powder and 205 cartons of Heal Balm were
impounded.”Orhii said investigations revealed that drug
counterfeiters no longer specialised only in foreign products but also
in Nigerian-made drugs.
He said most of the fake drugs being imported
were from China while India was second. He however said the agency was
having talks with the Chinese Embassy on the issue.He said, “I
can say for sure that most of the fake drugs we have in the country now
are from China while India comes second. The Indian government is giving
us full cooperation but we are still having talks with China.“NAFDAC
is working with the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria to track down the
criminal company in China that connived with the suspect to ship the
fake medicine into the country.”
The NAFDAC boss seized the opportunity to warn landlords who rent out their warehouses to dealers in fake drugs.
He said henceforth, landlords would be arrested and charged to court if their properties were used for such illegal acts.He advised consumers not to patronise traders who sold drugs secretly in their shops but should use proper pharmacies instead.
“Recent
discovery has revealed that drug counterfeiters now operate from
markets that deal in other commodities so as not to draw the attention
of law enforcement agencies to their nefarious activities,” he said.
Source: punch
