NAFDAC confiscates trailer load of counterfeit drugs and chemicals

Operatives of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have confiscated a trailer load of counterfeit drugs and chemicals allegedly heading to Kano.

The truck was intercepted at the Iddo Motor park laden with 570 cartons of unregistered Dr. Relly Extra (Paracetamol, Diclofenac and Caffeine tablets), 448 cartoons of Dicloforte 550, 273 cartoons of Chlorophenamine (Chlorpheniramine maleate 4mg), five cartoons of Kdmotil (Loperamide Hydrochloride tablets), 18 cartoons of Newdol (Diclofenac sodium capsules 50mg), 51 cartoons of Bospan, 25 cartoons of Tramadol 225mg/200mg, 10 drums of Toluene disocyanate 80/20 (TDI), 10 drums of Malachite Green powder and five drums of Methylviolate crystal.

The unregistered products concealed in bundles of fairly-used clothes, food products and registered products were being transported to the warehouse of one Chosen Global Haulage Nigeria Ltd, Kano State.

Speaking to newsmen at its Oshodi office, the Acting Director General of NAFDAC, Mrs. Yetunde Oni, said that two syndicates, one Mr. Ikechukwu Adiba of 82 Atikan Road, Sabon Gari, Kano and the Managing Director Chosen Global Haulage Nigeria had been arrested.

She said that the counterfeit products were allegedly manufactured in Gujurat in India and that investigations were still ongoing as to the source of the chemicals.

She, however, stated that the importation of chemicals such as Toluene disocyanate 80/20 (TDI) and Tramadol were controlled by the Federal Government because they can be easily converted to illicit drugs and weapons.

It will be recalled that the agency recently impounded 880 bags of chemical compound used for manufacturing explosives.

Speaking she said, “Toluene disocynate is a highly regulated and controlled chemical that could be used as a precursor in the manufacture of illicit drugs and as a chemical weapon by terrorist because of its volatile nature, while Tramadol is highly abused by youth notably commercial and truck driver as dependent substances”.

While assuring the public of a mop up operation of the counterfeit drugs in circulation across the nations, the Acting DG implored the National Union of Road Transport Workers to discourage as well as to report the hawking of all aphrodisiac chemicals.