20101204
Vanguard

The National Agency for Food And Drug Administration And Control (NAFDAC), Seme Border Command has impounded 360 cartons of fake drugs concealed as baby milk at Ashipa quarters.

The coordinator of the Seme border area, Mr Stanley Atabor, confirmed the seizure of Lyprohetadine drugs (360+240+350) worth N30 million in Seme. "On Nov.24,2010 at Ashipa Quarters, Seme border, NAFDAC operatives, acting on intelligence report, impounded fake drugs," he said. The operation was carried out successfully with the assistance of NAFDAC officers and Mobile police men attached to the Enforcement Directorate, Lagos.

The fake drugs, Lyprohetadine, popularly known as "Feed Fine" with batch number FF -136, manufacturing date of January 2010 and expiring date of December 2013, were produced in India.

As the drugs were being evacuated into a hired truck with registration number X737 LSR, the landlord of the Ashipa Quarters which served as warehouse for the seized drugs fled.

He was, however, caught and confessed that his son knew the importer that brought in the fake drugs to his compound for safe keeping.

Handcuffed and bundled into NAFDAC vehicle, the husband of three wives was later taken to Force Headquarters, Alagbon , Lagos for further investigation.

Apart from being an adulterated product , the storage condition of the drugs made it hazardous.

Mr Asikpo Joseph, Assistant Director Enforcement Unit, NAFDAC, said that the landlord would help them in unraveling the mystery behind the fake drugs import.

Meanwhile, the consignment has been quarantined at Nigeria Customs Command, Seme Border pending all necessary procedures for the transfer to NAFDAC headquarters at Oshodi, Lagos.