Chinese drugs with human remains: Customs, NAFDAC put ports on red alert

The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have signalled red alert to all their formations, especially at the ports, on the importation of Chinese drugs contaminated with human flesh and intestines to Nigeria.

The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) had, in a statement, said it had notified all health-related agencies on the importation of drugs contaminated with human flesh from China.

The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) also confirmed that it was privy to the said letter from the NIA, in collaboration with NCS.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Moji Adeyeye, confirmed the receipt of the letter notifying the agency of the Chinese drugs purported to be made of human remains.

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Adeyeye, in a statement made available to Saturday Tribune on Friday, said the agency received the notification from the Ministry of Health and that it was battle-ready to ensure the dangerous drugs do not find their way into the distribution chain and the hands of unsuspecting Nigerians.

“NAFDAC was informed by Ministry of Health yesterday (Thursday) of some Chinese drugs that contain human remains.

“We immediately alerted the agency’s Ports Inspection Directorate to be on the lookout at our ports and borders since the drugs may be brought into the country as small packages.

“The Pharmacovigilance and Post-marketing Directorate has also been alerted to conduct surveillance in our markets. The Registration and Regulatory Affairs Directorate is also on the lookout.

“We have also contacted her counterpart in South Korea since the news was disseminated by Nigeria and Korea intelligence agencies.

“Our goal is to safeguard the health of the nation. We will keep the public updated,” she said.

Also, a source in the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) said the officers and men had been put on red alert following the receipt of the information from the NIA.

The source, who declined to be named because he was not authorised to speak, said: “Our port formations have been alerted and we are on red alert to ensure that such importation does not come in, just like we have always done with dangerous cargoes.”

Upon receiving the alert, the Technical Assistant/Head, Public Relations, SON, Mr Bola Fashina, said the organisation beefed up its surveillance mechanism within its jurisdiction to check the possible penetration of the drugs.

He explained that it was the core responsibility of NAFDAC and Customs Service to prevent the drugs from gaining acceess into the country.

According to a source, the document sent by NIA revealed that the drugs, which were manufactured in North Eastern China, were made with foetuses chopped into pieces and powder.

While it was revealed that thousands of the said drugs were first confiscated in South Korea in 2012, the NIA document confirmed that “the South Korean Customs Service, on 30 September 2018, revealed that it had seized 2,751 Chinese drugs/capsules containing human remains from foetus, infants and flesh imported into the country by some Chinese nationals.

“The manufacturers claim that the drugs/capsules can boost stamina, cure cancer, diabetes and some other terminal diseases. The capsules were smuggled in suitcases and through international mail.

“The South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety indicated that 18.7 billion viruses, including hepatitis B virus, were found in the capsules.

“The Customs Service, NIPOST and other mail delivery services should also step up monitoring of cargoes and packages with drugs imported into Nigeria,” the document was said to have indicated.

The document also stated that the making of the human-remains drugs and their consumption were crimes against humanity which could also lead to serious health challenges.