The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has confiscated unregistered and counterfeit drugs worth N30 million in the Wuse 2 area of the Federal Capital Territory.
The NAFDAC team, led by the Deputy Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Kaduna, Tamanuwa Andrew, raided two drug stores and hawkers at Dei Dei Market on Monday.
Mr Andrew said some of the drugs seized at the store in Wuse 2 were addictive and were not to be sold over the counter, while others were not meant for the Nigerian market.
‘’Going by the Nigerian Constitution, it is only the federal government that has the right to bring in Schedule 1 Narcotics like Morphine, Codeine, and Meperidine, while all other health institutions are supposed to go to the Federal Medical Schools under the Federal Ministry of Health to purchase their Schedule 1 Narcotics for the use of their patients. And we found one of the Schedule 1 drugs on this premises,” he explained.
He said the agency would commence an investigation immediately into the matter and seal the drug store.
The team proceeded to another branch of the drug store located in Lokogoma, where the staff were seen emptying some of the shelves.
They alleged that they were cleaning them; however, the enforcement team still seized some drugs from the store.
NAFDAC’s enforcement team then proceeded to Dei Dei, where they also raided those that hawked drugs at Dei Dei Market.
Mr. Andrews said the agency got information about the activities of drug hawkers from its sister agency, DSS, and advised Nigerians to stop patronizing them.
Two persons were arrested in the Wuse 2 raid, while three hawkers were arrested in Dei Dei.
The leader of the NAFDAC enforcement team said all those arrested would be taken to the investigation and enforcement headquarters in Kaduna for prosecution to serve as a deterrent to others.
