NAFDAC Impounds 23 Containers of Tramadol, Other Unregistered Pharmaceuticals

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has recently uncovered twenty-three 40ft containers of tramodol and other unregistered pharmaceuticals, during its recent participation  in the joint examinations of containers at the Apapa Port, Lagos, that were coordinated by the Nigeria Customs Service.

The Agency, through a press statement from the office of its Director General, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, explained how twenty – three (23) 40ft containers out of (86) 40ft containers on the Agency’s watch list since November 2017 were examined on Wednesday 14th and Thursday 15th November, 2018.

NAFDAC Impounds 23 Containers of Tramadol, Other Unregistered Pharmaceuticals
Prof. Moji Adeyeye

The statement noted that the 86 containers were suspected to contain tramadol. The most recent of these containers are the thirty eight containers that were loaded with tramadol of high strength from India and twenty eight (28) of them were successfully blocked.

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According to the Agency, “these examined containers consist of One hundred and twenty eight thousand, nine hundred and twenty two (128,922) cartons of high strength of Tramadol (120mg, 200mg, 225mg & 250mg) which was estimated at a total of Six billion, four hundred and forty six million and one hundred thousand Tablets (6,446,100,000).

“In addition, three hundred and twenty one thousand, one hundred and forty six (321,146) cartons of other unregistered pharmaceutical products. The worth of tramadol alone on the street is estimated to be at about One Hundred and ninety three billion, three hundred and eight three million Naira (N193,383,000,000.00) on an average cost of one million and five hundred thousand naira per carton (N1,500,000.00)”.

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Attributing it’s success in capturing the illegal containers of tramadol to the cordial relationship that now exists between the Agency and the Nigerian Customs Service, NAFDAC stated that the prevention of these dangerous drugs from entering into the Nigerian markets would protect millions of youth from hazards of drug addiction which can pose threat to families, Nigerian workforce and the security of the nation at large. Of course this would have increased the number of casualties from insurgency, armed robbery and other social vices.

“We are pleased that the good working relationship with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the support received from all the commands of NCS and other government establishments along the West Coast of Africa contributed to the success recorded so far. This is greatly appreciated”.

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The Agency has assured the populace of its commitment in safeguarding the health of the people by working with all other relevant agencies to ensure that Nigeria is not a market for unwholesome pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs.

 

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