A Mercedes truck laden with banned and unregistered medicinal products has been intercepted by the officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Asaba, Delta State.
NAFDAC explained in a statement that the truck was intercepted along Asaba–Benin road by officers of the Agency’s Investigation and Enforcement (I&E) Directorate following an intelligence report.
Its Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, in the statement which was signed by NAFDAC’s resident media consultant, Sayo Akintola, reiterated the Agency’s resolve to ensure that only wholesome medicinal products and other regulated products are available in the markets for public use and consumption.
She said that after thorough screening of the products, the truck was found to contain, among other products, improperly stored tetanus-diphtheria vaccine, and various unregistered banned and controlled medicinal products, including Analgin injection, CSP with codeine cough syrup, mepacrine HCL tablets, diethylcarbamazine citrate tablets, Dano tetanus vaccine, artesunate injection, and many others.
She further explained that the products were evacuated and inventory taken while the suspects with cartons containing the products made police statements but they were released on administrative bail.
According to the NAFDAC boss, further investigations revealed that the intercepted truck was conveying the products from the bridgehead drug market in Onitsha, Anambra State, to retailers in Warri, Delta State.
She listed the retail outlets as, Pendrix Pharmacy, Warri; Samtex Pharmacy, Warri; Onos Pharmacy, Warri; Chima Patent Medicine Store, Warri; Imoson Patent Medicine Store, Warri; Sam-C Patent Medicine Store, Warri; Sunshine Patent Medicine Store, Warri; and Hyunus Patent Medicine Store, Warri.
Others are Chuks Patent Medicine Store, Warri; Solomon Patent Medicine Store, Warri; Friday Patent Medicine Store, Warri; Madam Faithmax Patent Medicine Store, Warri; Omas Pharmacy, Warri; Evans Patent Medicine Store, Warri; Chiyere Patent Medicine Store, Warri; and Philo Patent Medicine Store, bridgehead market, Onitsha.
Prof. Adeyeye, therefore, warned drug merchants to always have the wellbeing of Nigerians at heart over and above any other pecuniary consideration, stressing that there’s no hiding place for anyone that deals with the illicit business of circulating dangerous medicinal products that are capable of compromising the health of the Nigerian public.
