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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has uncovered an illegal drug factory in an uncompleted storey building at Azagba-Ogwash in the Delta State Capital Territory.
The uncompleted building belonging to the fake drug producer, one Ekene Igwe, has a factory on the ground flat, which is also used as a residential apartment.
The Deputy Director in charge of NAFDAC Investigation and Enforcement of the Federal Taskforce for South South/South East, Mr Babatunji Omoyeni, on Tuesday, stated that the agency raided the factory and arrested one Blessing Igwe, wife of the prime suspect who is at large.
He said, “The agency successfully tracked his drug shop at Bridge Head drug market in Onitsha, where illicit drugs are produced and sold to unsuspecting buyers.
“The seizures at the illicit drug factory included a big drum containing vials soaked in a liquid substance, adulterated drugs, and rebranding of expired drugs, including a large quantity of chloroquine phosphate 322 mg/5ml, petazine injection 50mg//2ml, gentamycin injection 280 mg/2 ml and many other contraband injectables with new labelling.
“We recorded the breakthrough following a tip-off from concerned members of the public, and we also profiled some other occupants of the uncompleted building while efforts were being intensified to track the prime suspect.”
Omoyeni 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.
Also speaking, the NAFDAC Director for the South East Zone, Dr Martins Iluyomade, disclosed the plans to seize the storey building used for the illicit drug manufacturing and relabelling of expired drugs.
“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 illicit drugs produced by these merchants who are looking for money at all costs.
“Perpetrating these heinous crimes using all manner of avenues, including inciting the public against what NAFDAC is doing and using ill-got money after killing a lot of people. Nigerians need to be very vigilant.
”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.
“What these drug merchants have done since they knew that Ogbo-Ogu market is no longer safe for their illicit drug business is they have moved out to neighbouring places like Asaba in uncompleted buildings, relabelling injectables that expired 7 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,” he asserted.
