NAFDAC destroys N3.5bn Tramadol, Codeine, fake products

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed banned and unregistered Tramadol,Codeine and other unwholesome products worth over N3.5billion.

Speaking at the destruction site in Sagamu, Ogun State on Friday, the Director-General of NAFDAC , Prof. Moji Adeyeye, said the street value of 13 container loads of Tramadol alone that were destroyed at the exercise were worth over N1.7billion.

Adeyeye said: “The products being destroyed today are made up of Tramadol, Codeine,illegally imported unwholesome sugar of different brands and counterfeit medicines. Also included are damaged and expired NAFDAC regulated products voluntarily submitted to the agency by compliants companies.

“The total street value of the products being destroyed is about N3.5billion. The street value of Tramadol that is being destroyed today is estimated to be N1,708,750,000.00.”

Adeyeye disclosed that the 13 containers of banned and unregistered Tramadol and Diclofenac were released to the agency for destruction by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) .

Besides the 13 containers , Adeyeye revealed that over 33 container loads of Tramadol were still being expected to be released to the agency for destruction by NCS, adding that the destroyed products were the largest seizures in recent times.

She noted that only 50mg and 100mg of Tramadol are approved for use in Nigeria, lamenting that NAFDAC’s Inspection and Enforcement activities have however, exposed a cartel that specialises in the importation of banned strengths of Tramadol ( strength above 100mg.)

According to her, the banned strengths have deleterious effects on vital organs of the body including the brain.

The NAFDAC boss stated that the use of Tramadol has ruined the lives of many promising youths who could have been the future and assets of the country.

To effectively tackle the menace of fake and illicit drugs in the country, Adeyeye appealed to the National Assembly to speed-up the amendment of the agency’s laws to address the dangerous trend of counterfeiting and destruction of innocent lives.

Calling for a stiffer penalty for drug offenders, Adeyeye said: ” A situation where a convict is sentenced to two years in prison with an option of the maximum statutory fine of N500,000 is a nudge on the counterfeiters not even a slap.”

She noted that just last week, the agency secured a conviction for one Mr. Ezeanwu Ifeanyi at the Federal High Court in Lagos with the convict sentenced to five years imprisonment for being in possession of Tramadol though with an option of N300,000 fine.

“We also have one counterfeit medicines seized and confiscated from Olisameka Osefo”, she said, adding that the suspect was arraigned and subsequently convicted while the fake medicines were forfeited to the federal government for destruction.

She assurded that NAFDAC would ensure that the manufacture, distribution, sale and use of medical products and food are effectively controlled to ensure that the prescribed standards of identity,safety, quality and efficacy are met.

Wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, who withnessed the destruction exercise, commended NAFDAC for its effort to keep the country free of fake and counterfeit medicines, saying that its proactiveness and diligence resorted to the massive seizures.

Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaiye and his Environment Counterpart, Mr. Bolaji Oyeleye commended NAFDAC while pledging the state government’s support for the agency in tackling the menace of drug abuse in the country.

End.