The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered illegal sales and storage of fake chemicals, expired food flavourings, unauthorized fertilizers, and repackaged pharmaceutical raw materials valued at over N1 billion in the Alapere area of Ketu, Lagos.
In a statement issued by the agency, three suspects were arrested during the operation, and three warehouses containing hazardous substances were sealed.
NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Martins Iluyomade, said the raid was carried out based on credible intelligence exposing a criminal syndicate involved in the large-scale counterfeiting of food and chemicals, as well as the repackaging of expired substances for use in food and drug production.
“This is part of our ongoing efforts to safeguard public health,” Iluyomade said. “Expired chemicals used in the production of consumables pose a serious health risk, as they render the final product unsafe and ineffective.”
Also speaking, NAFDAC’s Director of Chemical Evaluation and Research, Leonard Omokpariola, disclosed that items recovered from the site included expired food flavourings such as roasted beef and chicken, Chinook, tiger nuts, and active pharmaceutical ingredients like metronidazole benzoate.
(Vanguard)
