NAFDAC discovers N1b fake chemicals and expired food flavours, seals 3 warehouses filled with substances dangerous to human health
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Illegal sales of fake chemicals, expired food flavours, unauthorised fertilisers, and repackaged pharmaceutical raw materials worth more than N1 billion have been discovered by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in the Alapere axi of Ketu, Lagos.
NAFDAC disclosed in a statement that it arrested three suspects in the operation and sealed three warehouses filled with substances dangerous to human health.
Its Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Martins Iluyomade, said the raid followed credible intelligence about a criminal network engaged in large-scale food and chemical counterfeiting as well as repackaging expired chemicals redirected for use in food and drug production.
“This is one of the campaigns our agency is carrying out to protect the health of Nigerians.
“Chemicals are either precursors for other materials or are directly used in the production of consumable goods. Using expired chemicals means that the final product cannot be safe or effective. That is a serious health risk,” Iluyomade stressed.
NAFDAC Director of Chemical Evaluation and Research at NAFDAC, Leonard Omokpariola listed items recovered from the site to include “expired food flavourings, roasted beef, roasted chicken, Chinook, tiger nuts, and also active pharmaceutical ingredients like metronidazole benzoate.”
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