Ikenna ObianeriThe National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has intercepted fake drugs in its ongoing enforcement operation at the Onitsha Bridgehead drug market, popularly known as Ogbo-Ogwu in Anambra State.During the exercise, the agency uncovered two trailer loads of unregistered narcotics, banned tramadol, and counterfeit drugs concealed inside plumbing materials shops located within the market.Speaking to journalists at the market during its operation on Friday, the South-East Zonal Director of NAFDAC, Dr.
Martins Iluyomade, stated that based on intelligence gathering, its operatives decided to extend their search to nearby plumbing materials shops.There, they discovered cartons of tramadol and other prohibited drugs neatly hidden inside the shops and covered with plumbing materials.Iluyomade recalled that a few years ago, NAFDAC officials were attacked and injured at the same plumbing materials market when they initially received intelligence about fake drugs being concealed there.
He noted that this time, the agency ensured adequate security before extending its search across the market.He lamented that the quantity of prohibited drugs found in the plumbing materials shops had so far exceeded those discovered in the drug market itself.He added that within two days of searching the plumbing shops, two trailers had been filled with seized drugs, with more still being loaded.
According to him, the scale of the discovery means that NAFDAC may require sev.