The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered an illegal drug factory located in a three-storey uncompleted building at Azagba Ogwash, near Issele-Azagba in Delta State, where drugs and injectables are produced.
The owner of the uncompleted building, Ekene Igwe, also runs the illegal drug factory located on the ground floor of the three-storey building.
NAFDAC’s enforcement team, who led journalists to the scene, arrested one Blessing Igwe, wife of the prime suspect who is now at large, while also profiling some other occupants of the uncompleted building.
Head of the team, Babatunji Omoyeni, a deputy director, hinted that the agency had successfully tracked a drug shop at Ogbo-Ogu, Bridge Head Market, Onitsha, where illicit drugs are sold to unsuspecting buyers.
Omoyeni disclosed that the seizures at the illicit drug factory included a big drum containing vials soaked in liquid substance, adulterated drugs, rebranded expired drugs, including large quantities of chloroquine phosphate 322 mg/5ml, petazine injection 50mg//2ml, gentamycin injection 280mg/2ml, and many other contraband injectables with new labelling.
He 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.
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NAFDAC Director for the South East Zone, Martins Iluyomade, said the agency plans to seize the three-storey building used for the illicit drug manufacturing and relabeling 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 the consumption of the illicit drugs produced by these merchants who are looking for money at all costs and perpetrating these heinous crimes using all manner of avenues, including inciting the public against what NAFDAC is doing.
“The prime suspect at large is one of the major traders at Ogbo-Ogu Bridge Head Drug Market in Onitsha, who has been in this illicit drug business for a long time.
“What these drug merchants have done since they knew that Ogbo-Ogu Market is no longer safe for their illicit drug business is that they moved out to neighbouring places like Asaba, in uncompleted buildings, and relabeling injectables that expired seven 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 a solution to make sure that Nigerians are safe, and we can safeguard the health of the public.”
