Director General, NAFDAC, Prof. Christianah Adeyeye, in a statement made available to The PUNCH on Friday, said one Mr Okeke Francis of No. 28 Otigba Crescent, G.R.A. Onitsha, Anambra State, was arrested with expired G-Man organic energy drink in Onitsha, Anambra State.
She said, “Further investigation led to a warehouse in Aba, Abia state where evidence of revalidation of the expiry date of the drink was established,” she said.
“Investigation revealed that the violative G-Man energy drink was manufactured in Germany and was imported into Nigeria when some of the products were already expired, and some were close to expiry.”
She also revealed that intelligence tracking of a suspected importer of fake Basslox capsules (ampicillin 250mg + cloxacillin 250mg) led to the arrest of an infamous counterfeit medicine and narcotics drug importer and distributor, Managing Director Of Tomatch Investment Ltd., Electronic Market, Onitsha, Mr Emmanuel Obidike.
Adeyeye said, “Painstaking surveillance and investigation on the reported case of Basslox capsules lead to the arrest of one Mr Anayo Okoye who eventually led us to Mr Emmanuel Obidike who is a notorious importer of counterfeit medicines.”
She revealed that on June 9, 2023, the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate stormed a warehouse belonging to Feed Avenue Limited in the Idu Industrial area of the Federal Capital Territory following an intelligence report.
“The company, belonging to a French national, was revalidating the expiry dates of expired animal feed premix, which were not registered by NAFDAC.
“The warehouse manager, who was on the ground at the time of the visit, gave the total value of the revalidated finished products at N1.9 billion only. The warehouse was sealed and the warehouse manager was arrested.”