NAFDAC destroys N29bn counterfeit drugs in 3 years

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Wednesday said it had destroyed counterfeit drugs worth N29 billion in the last three years.

Dr Abubakar Jimoh, Director, Special Duties, gave the figure in an interview with our reporter in Abuja.

Jimoh explained that in December 2016 alone, fake drugs worth N9.6 billion were destroyed in Port Harcourt, Rivers, in an operation carried out in conjunction with the Nigeria Customs Service.

He described counterfeit drugs as worthless and valueless, adding that the N29 billion is what would have been made from sales, if the drugs had succeeded in flooding the Nigerian markets.

“Counterfeit drugs, as far as we are concerned have no value; but those engaged in this dastardly act would have made N29 billion in the last three years,” he said.

Jimoh said that seven persons were convicted in the last two years, for various drug offences.

He said that a lady, among the fake drugs merchants, bagged seven years imprisonment without an option of fine.

The director said that the conviction was the highest punishment handed to any counterfeiter in recent time.

Jimoh, who is also NAFDAC’s spokesman, said that the organisation currently has not less than 50 drug offences cases pending in various courts of law across the country.

The official expressed the hope that the courts would convict more dealers of fake drugs to serve as deterrent to others engaged in the nefarious business.

He said the agency was determined to get rid of counterfeit drugs and other fake products from the country and urged Nigerians to be vigilant and serve as ‘NAFDAC agents’ in exposing the perpetrators.