By Our Reporter
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) announced on Friday that it had uncovered a significant operation depot dealing in expired and falsified drugs at Umumeje village in the Osisioma Ngwa area of Abia State.
In a statement shared on X, NAFDAC confirmed that the illicit operation was being run from several buildings located near the Ariaria International Market. The agency revealed that expired medications were being repackaged and revalidated for resale, which posed a serious health threat to consumers.
“The seized items included expired potassium chloride, allergy medications, immune boosters, and cholesterol treatments,” the statement noted.
It further mentioned that machines used to alter the expiry dates of the drugs were found on-site. Despite attempts to locate the prime suspect, the statement stated that he showed no concern for his detained family members.
NAFDAC has uncovered a major depot for expired drugs in Aba:
NAFDAC has discovered a large-scale operation dealing in expired and falsified drugs at Umumeje village, Osisioma Ngwa, Abia State.
NAFDAC NIGERIA (@NafdacAgency) – February 14, 2025
The raid led to the arrest of several individuals involved in the operation. However, the main suspect remains on the run. NAFDAC confirmed that the operation, which involved collaboration with security agencies, was part of the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to combat the circulation of counterfeit drugs across the country.
NAFDAC also reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating the distribution of substandard and falsified pharmaceutical products in Nigeria. The agency announced that it is reviewing its laws to introduce stricter penalties for individuals and organizations involved in the production and distribution of harmful drugs.