The Director General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Prof.Moji Adeyeye, has revealed how the agency was able to intercept a trailer loaded with unregistered pharmaceutical products at Oshodi, Lagos, on 9 January 2019.
She explained through a press statement from her office, how the officials of the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate of NAFDAC, got a tip-off from a concerned citizen that a 40ft trailer was transporting assorted suspected pharmaceutical products to an unknown destination, and they were able to mount a six-hour surveillance and intercepted the said trailer at Oshodi enroute Mushin.
The NAFDAC boss further stated that while trying to move the intercepted trailer to NAFDAC’s warehouse, operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service and Nigeria Police Force came into the scene to lend a helping hand, and the trailer was eventually moved to the Area D Command, Mushin.
The document reads in part:
“After a joint examination by operatives of NAFDAC, Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Police Force, the following products were found in the trailer:
“1. Barcadin with codeine (cough syrup) – 588ctns x 200bottles x100ml, batch no. OHLC-08, OHLC-09, OHLC-10, OHLC-11, OHLC-12. Mfg date: 09/18 Exp. date: 08/21
“2. Feed fine (Cyproheptadine caplet) 44ctns x 24rolls x 10pks x 3blisters x10 caplets. Batch no. MP8212, MP8213, MP8214, MP8215, MP8216, MP8217, MP8219, MP8220. Mfg. date: 07/18 Exp. date: 06/22
“3. Really Extra (Diclofenac sodium tab) 190ctns x 100boxes x 10pkts x 1×10 caplets. Batch no. AB80003. Mfg. date: 10/18 Exp. date: 09/21.
“4. Afrodic (Diclofenac sodium cap) – 207ctns x 100boxes x 10pks x 1×10 caplets. Batch no. AF004, AF006. Mfg. date: 03/18 Exp. date: 02/21”.
The statement also revealed that one Mr Luke Mba ‘M’ of no 9 Ehi str., Ijesa, Lagos. who accompanied the trailer and claimed to be the importer was arrested along with the driver.
While the agency has resolved to prosecute the suspect when the Police hands him over to her, the statement disclosed that initial investigation showed that the unregistered products were manufactured and/or imported from India into Nigeria through the Seme land border and allegedly Onitsha, Anambra state bound.
“It is of note that the Federal Government announced a ban on the production and import of cough syrup containing codeine after investigation into its addiction epidemic. We appeal to members of the public as part of their civic responsibility to report any incidence of counterfeiting and adulteration of foods, drugs, cosmetic, medical devices, chemical and packaged water to NAFDAC for prompt regulatory and legal action”, the document stated.
 Prof.Moji Adeyeye, has revealed how the agency was able to intercept a trailer loaded with unregistered pharmaceutical products at Oshodi, Lagos, on 9 January 2019.){kind=link}