NAFDAC seizes N270m worth of fake drugs

The Director General Dr. Paul Orhii, who made this known yesterday during a media briefing, also paraded two suspects involved in forgery of the agency’s documents and operating illegal production facilities that pose serious threat to public health.
The NAFDAC boss said that the containers, seized with the assistance of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), were filled with Heregra (120 Mg Tablets), Ziagra (120Mg Tablets),  Tramadol (200 mg Capsules), among others.
He said “unregistered Ziagra and Heragra brands of sildenafil citrate tablets are usually registered in 25 milligrammes, 50 milligrammes and 100 milligrammes.
However, these unregistered products came at the strength of 120 milligrammes. The unregistered Tramadol came in as 200 milligrammes quick action and 200 milligrammes.
He added that these products had not been tested and certified by NAFDAC, adding that their quality and safety are not guaranteed.
Orhii explained that intake of these products could cause serious side effects, such as chest pain, uncomfortable penile erection, irregular heart-beat, increased blood pressure or stroke, ulceration of the gastro-intestinal tract, death tolerance and dependence.
Others include liver disease, kidney disease, swelling of the face, swelling of the tongue and skin disease.
One of the suspects was arrested for producing counterfeit Kasapreko Alomo Bitters, another was arrested for forgery of the agency’s documents to clear 14 by 40 feet container of paraqua – a highly- toxic weed killer.
Orhii stated that its operatives recovered 314 cartons of 14 by 750 millimetres of counterfeit Kasapreko Alomo Bitters with empty bottles and packaging materials of popular alcoholic beverages like Mcdowell Whisky and Johnny Walker (Red Label).