The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control on Wednesday disclosed that it has seized a Mercedes truck conveying banned and unregistered medicinal products in Asaba, Delta State capital.

NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye disclosed this via a statement signed by the agency’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola on Wednesday.

According to her, the Mercedes truck conveying substandard and falsified medicines was intercepted along Asaba–Benin road by officers of the Agency’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, following an intelligence report.

After a thorough screening, the NAFDAC boss claimed that the truck contained Tetanus Diphtheria vaccine and several unregistered, banned and controlled medicinal products such as Analgin Injection, CSP with Codeine cough syrup, Mepacrine HCL Tablets, Diethylcarbamazine Citrate Tablets, Dano Tetanus Vaccine, Artestunate Injection, and many others.

She further explained that the products were evacuated, and inventory taken while the suspects with cartons containing the products made police statements and were released on administrative bail.

Further investigations revealed that the truck intercepted which took off from Ogbo-Ogwu Bridge head market in Onitsha, Anambra State for supply to retailers in Warri, Delta State.

The retailer outlets are: Pendrix Pharmacy, Warri, Samtex Pharmacy, Warri, Onos Pharmacy, Warri, Chima Patent Medicine Store, Warri, Imoson Patent Medicine Store, Warri, Sam-C Patent Medicine Store, Warri, Sunshine Patent Medicine Store, Warri and Hyunus Patent Medicine Store, Warri.

Others are Chuks Patent Medicine Store, Warri, Solomon Patent Medicine Store, Warri, Friday Patent Medicine Store, Warri, Madam Faithmax Patent Medicine Store, Warri, Omas Pharmacy, Warri, Evans Patent Medicine Store, Warri, Chiyere Patent Medicine Store, Warri and Philo Patent Medicine Store, Bridge Head Market, Onitsha.

Adeyeye vowed that NAFDAC is resolved to ensure that only wholesome medicinal products and other regulated products are available in the markets for public use and consumption.

Prof Adeyeye also sent a strong warning signal to medicine merchants to always have the general wellbeing of Nigerians at heart above any other pecuniary consideration.