National Agency For Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raided a three storey uncompleted building at Azagba-Ogwashi in Delta State where illicit drugs and injectables are produced.
The uncompleted building belonging to a fake drug producer, one Ekene Igwe, has a factory on the ground flat, which is also used as a residential apartment.
The agency enforcement team who led journalists to the scene arrested one Blessing Igwe, wife of the prime suspect who is at large, and also profiled some other occupants of the uncompleted building.
Head of the team, Babatunji Omoyeni, deputy director incharge of NAFDAC Investigation and Enforcement of Federal Taskforce for South South, and South East, hinted that the agency had successfully tracked a drug shop at Ogbo-Ogu, Bridge Head market, in Onitsha where illicit drugs produced are sold to unsuspected buyers.
According to Omoyeni, the seizures at the illicit drug factory included a big drum containing vials soaked in liquid substance, adulterated drugs, rebranding expired drugs including large quantity of chloroquine phosphate 322 mg/5ml, petazine injection 50mg//2ml, gentamycin injection 280mg/2ml and many other contraband injectables with new labelling.
Omoyeni said the agency recorded the breakthrough following a tip off from concerned members of the public.
While revealing that efforts were being intensified to track the prime suspect, the NAFDAC enforcement officer said the arrested wife of the culprit would be arraigned before a competent court for trial and prosecution over her level of involvement in the illicit drug business.
NAFDAC Director for South East Zone, Dr Martins Iluyomade hinted of plans to seize the storey building used for the illicit drug manufacturing and relabelling of expired drugs.
Iluyomade said, “I feel very sad for our country and the kind of things that are playing out. Only God knows how many people have died from consumption of the illicit drugs produced by these merchants who are looking for money at all cost, and perpetrating these heinous crimes using all manners of avenue including inciting the public against what NAFDAC is doing, using ill gotten money after killing a lot of people. Nigerians need to be very vigilant.
“The prime suspect at large is one of the major traders at Ogbo-Ogu Bridge Head drug market in Onitsha whom has been in this illicit drug business. What these drug merchants have done since they knew that Ogbo-Ogu market is no longer safe for their illicit drug business, they have moved out to neighbouring palaces like Asaba in uncompleted buildings, relabelling injectables that expired far back 7 years ago”
“This issue of illicit drug business has been on for several years, and there has not been any solution. This time, NAFDAC is coming forward with solution to make sure that Nigerians are safe, and we are able to safeguard the health of the public” Iluyomade added.
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