PRESS BRIEFING BY THE ACTING DIRECTOR GENERAL ON RECENT ACTIVITIES OF THE NATIONAL AGENCY FOR FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION AND CONTROL (NAFDAC) HELD AT OSHODI AUDITORIUM ON THE 20th APRIL 2017

 

PROTOCOLS

You are welcome to this press briefing which is intended to inform the general public about the recent activities of the Agency. The Agency in the past weeks has made several arrests and carried out investigations. Worthy of mention are:

 

1. ILLEGAL PRODUCTION OF JEDI- (PLUS) HERBAL BITTER CLEANSER AND ROCK WELL HERBAL BITTER WITH FAKE NAFDAC REGISTRATION NUMBERS

Sequel to a Whistle blower’s report of a case of production of bitters with fake NAFDAC registration numbers, our Investigation Officers made their way to a building at 11 Omotosho Crescent, Off Ewedana Street, Tollgate Ota, Ogun State.

The building is a brick wall fenced bungalow of a five-bedroom apartment. Two of the rooms are residential, while the other three rooms, the parlour and the kitchen are for the production of the following unregistered, deceptive (with fake NAFDAC Registration Number) and counterfeit products namely:

i. Merry Jedi-(Plus) Bitter Cleanser, with fake NAFDAC Registration â„–08–5679. The owner of the product is Mr Innocent Merry Iloabuchi.

ii. Rock Well Herbal Bitter with fake NAFDAC Registration â„–01–3076. The owner of the product is Mr Chukwudi Ogbuta.

Furthermore, the products were being produced in a very dirty environment by unqualified personnel, under poor GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice).

Empty plastic bottles, caps, cartons and sticker labels of another product — Stone Cream Liqueur were also found in the facility.

The addresses on the labels of all the products are fake.

Meanwhile, the samples of the products have been sent to NAFDAC laboratory for analysis while the building remains sealed.

Investigation is on-going.

 

2. RAID ON SHOPS INVOLVED IN ILLEGAL PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF FAKE ALCOHOLIC AND NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AT OGBARU RELIEF MARKET, ONITSHA

Following intelligence reports a team of NAFDAC Investigation and Enforcement and Federal Task Force on Counterfeit and Unwholesome Processed Foods Officers stormed Ogbaru Relief Market in Onitsha, Anambra State on 7th April, 2017 where they discovered several shops used for the production, distribution, sale and storage of fake and counterfeit alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks of various popular brands valued at over Two Hundred Million Naira (N 200,000,000.00).

These drinks were produced by manual mixing in plastic buckets and filled into bottles under very unhygienic conditions within the market premises. Some of the counterfeited popular brands include Moet and Chandon Wine, St. Remy Brandy, 501 Brandy, Red Label (Johnny Walker) Whisky, Baron De Vals Red Wine, Eagle Schnapps Dry Gin, McDowell Whisky, Jalone Cognac Wine and Pure Heaven Sparkling Drinks. The team also discovered a container load of fake holograms, labels and packaging materials of the counterfeited brands.

Six (6) suspects were arrested and interrogated. They are: Ada Ikeobi (a nursing mother), Chikezie Ogaejiofor, Ikechukwu Onu, Ikechukwu Nwolisa, Chinaza Okolo and Anayo Obi. Investigation is ongoing.

The consumption of these counterfeit drinks may lead to Liver Cirrhosis, Kidney failures and Cancers.

 

3. IMPORTATION OF EXPIRED HEALTH DRINKS AND EXAMINATION GLOVES

A donated consignment of ninety-five (95) cartons of expired Gloves and five hundred and ninety five (595) crates of expired Smart Wellness Drink were intercepted at Tincan Island Port, Lagos by the Agency.

The company falsely declared the items as five thousand and eighty (5080) packs of medical equipment and books. All the items have been evacuated to NAFDAC Warehouse.

It is pertinent to note that foreign juices are on the Federal Government Import Prohibition list. The general public is hereby advised that expired or banned items should not be imported into the country, whether as donated items or not. We have noticed that Faith-based and Charitable Organisations are victims of unscrupulous foreign donors. Nigeria is not a dumping ground for expired, about to expire or banned products.

By reason of the above, we hereby advise Faith-based and Charitable Organisations to contact NAFDAC before shipment of any donated NAFDAC regulated items to Nigeria.

 

4. RE-PROCESSING OF FINISHED CHEMICALS

Following a tip-off by a patriotic Nigerian, a consignment of Sulphuric Acid (4 x 1000 litres) was intercepted in front of an uncompleted residential building at Agbara. It was discovered that the suspect diluted its original concentration of 99.9% to 50% and relabeled it as well. The suspect has no Chemical Permit and the facility is not licensed to carry out such sensitive and hazardous operation. It was also observed that there was no technical staff attached to the company.

3 x 1000Ltrs of the diluted Acid have been evacuated, while the remaining 1 x 1000Ltrs and the diluting facilities have been placed on “HOLD”.

It is important to note that Sulphuric Acid is a precursor to the manufacture of many illicit drugs. The chemical is strictly regulated and controlled under International Conventions. Inhalation of the fumes from this chemical and accidental spillage may lead to various disease conditions like Cancer and grievous bodily harm. We have reported incidences of it being used in domestic attacks.

Members of the public are hereby advised to be vigilant and to report any strange or clandestine activities around their neighbourhood; as they relate to the importation, exportation, manufacture, warehousing, distribution and sale of NAFDAC regulated products to the nearest NAFDAC Office.

 

5. NAFDAC SEIZED CONTAINERS AND CARTONS OF FAKE AND CONTROLLED PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS AND MEDICAL DEVICES

NAFDAC Officers at Apapa Port intercepted five containers (C-3748, C-3750, C-3751, C-3752, C-3749) based on Intelligence report. On due examination of the contents of the container declared as pharmaceutical product turned out to contain clones of known registered Nigerian brands of pharmaceutical products. The fake pharmaceutical products ranged from Analgesics, Anti-inflammatory, Opioid-like, Anti-diarrhea, Antipyretic and Anti-tussive.

 

The unregistered fake drugs are:

1. IVIXAGRIP

2. BUZAKA

3. SURADREX

4. TRAMADOL CAPSULES 120MG (unapproved strength)

5. DIARREACURE

6. DIARREASTOP

7. NEWDOL

8. DA REALLY EXTRA

9. TRAMADOL CAPSULES 200MG (unapproved strength)

10.ORIGINAL CHEST AND LUNG TABLETS ETC.

In addition, 3 x 40ft containers (C-5789, C-4146, C-3934) suspected to contain unregistered and fake pharmaceuticals were also intercepted at the AP MOLLER Terminal.

Furthermore, 1 x 40ft containers (ZCSU-8620163) of suspected fake pharmaceutical products falsely manifested as Electrical Goods on the bill of lading was stopped by NAFDAC Officers at the TIC Terminal of Tincan Island Port, Lagos.

 

The unregistered and fake pharmaceutical products are Analgesics, which include:

1. IBURAMOL DICLOFENAC SODIUM CAPSULE 50MG

2. TRAMADOL TABLETS 225MG

3. TRAMADOL CAPSULES 120MG

Investigation is ongoing.

 

6. INTERCEPTION, SEIZURE AND TRANSFER OF 1 X 40 FT CONTAINER NO TGHU 8729300 CONTAINING UNREGISTERED CICLEX OPA TEST STRIPS WHICH EXPIRED ON 28TH MARCH 2017 IMPORTED BY PACIFIC DIAGNOSTICS LIMITED

A consignment of 1 x 40ft container containing Ciclex OPA test strips which expired 28th March 2017 Imported by Pacific Diagnostics Limited, was intercepted by NAFDAC Officers on duty at Tincan Island Container Terminal, Lagos. The test strips have the following information:

Batch No: 029123

Pack size: 15 pcs

Exp Date: 28/03/2017

Investigation is on-going.

 

7. INTERCEPTION, SEIZURE OF 6 CARTONS (2 PACKAGES) OF UNREGISTERED PETHIDINE INJECTION (CONTROLLED) 100MG/2ML

A consignment of 6 cartons (2 packages) containing Pethidine Injection (controlled) 100mg/2ml.

The consignment was intercepted by NAFDAC Officers on duty at NAFDAC-NAHCO SHED 4 MMA.

The consignment contains the following information:

Batch No: 0077369

Pack size: 10 x 2ml ampoules

Expiry Date: 11/2019

MFG DATE: 11/2016

AWB NO: 172–9359 0836

IMPORTER: Detached

 

It is also worthy of note that Pethidine is a controlled drug with powerful pain relieving properties. Pethidine injection is used for the relief of moderate to severe pain and is used for pain relief during labour. It may also be used to stop you from feeling pain before and during an operation and to provide continuous pain relief if needed.

Rapid intravenous administration of Pethidine increases the incidence of these effects and may result in serious respiratory depression and hypotension with tachycardia. The most frequently observed adverse effects include lightheadedness, dizziness, hypothermia, sedation, nausea, vomiting and sweating.

Investigation is on-going.

 

CONCLUSION

I can boldly say that NAFDAC is doing everything to ensure that only safe medicine and wholesome food of the right quality are sold to all consumers. I would like to use this opportunity to solicit for the support of health practitioners, community leaders, religious leaders, the press and all stakeholders to continue to educate their wards and family members to desist from patronising quacks and hawkers of medicines on the street.

We further advise consumers of NAFDAC regulated products to be watchful of drug, food and other regulated products they purchase and obtain a receipt of payment for same. The general public should not hesitate to report any suspicious activities within their neighbourhood to the nearest NAFDAC office and Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, 10–15 Mobil road, Apapa, Lagos. Let us be our brothers’ keepers.

NAFDAC sincerely appreciates the cooperation and collaboration of the “whistleblowers” and the intelligence gatherings that led to the discoveries of the venue of the clandestine activities and the spurious and falsified medical products and other unwholesome regulated products reported upon today.

We assure the public that every information will be treated with the confidentiality it deserves and followed up to a logical conclusion. NAFDAC is poised to safeguarding the health of the nation and committed to better health outcomes and well-being of the citizens in all ramifications.

We implore you to visit NAFDAC office in any state of the Federation including FCT to report all suspected cases of clandestine activities or call any of the following emergency numbers: 08133630600 & 08058741647

 

Finally, I thank everyone that has partnered with NAFDAC. We still enlist your support in our quest to eradicate the incidence of counterfeit, fake and unwholesome regulated products.

Thank you.