The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Monday raided the Onitsha Bridgehead Drug Market in Anambra State, seizing suspected fake and adulterated pharmaceutical products.
Leading the operation, Dr. Martin Iluyomade, NAFDAC’s Southeast Coordinator, told journalists that the crackdown was part of a nationwide effort to combat substandard and falsified medicines.
He emphasized that the exercise, which follows extensive surveillance and data collection, would be thorough and continuous.
“This operation is happening simultaneously in major drug markets across the Southeast.
Some traders were found storing chemicals in one shop, keeping empty containers, and mislabeling unbranded medicines with misleading information, including fake NAFDAC registration numbers,” Iluyomade stated.
He revealed that officials discovered unpackaged medicines, empty containers pre-labeled with false manufacturing and expiry dates, and other deceptive packaging meant to trick unsuspecting buyers.
The NAFDAC official also accused the market leadership of failing to cooperate with the agency in its fight against counterfeit drugs.
“This operation will continue for as long as necessary to sanitize the markets. Culprits will be identified, arrested, and prosecuted according to the law,” Iluyomade vowed.
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