The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered an illegal drug manufacturing site in Delta State. The facility was located in a three-storey, uncompleted building at Azagba Ogwashi, near Issele-Azagba.
NAFDAC said the ground floor of the building served as both a drug factory and a residential apartment. The factory was linked to one Ekene Igwe, who is now on the run. His wife, Blessing Igwe, was arrested during the raid and is now in custody.
NAFDAC officials led journalists to the scene. The team profiled several other occupants of the building.
Expired Drugs Were Rebranded for Sale in Market
The head of the enforcement team, Babatunji Omoyeni, said a large cache of fake and expired drugs was seized at the site. These included vials soaked in liquid chemicals and poorly packaged injections.
“We recovered adulterated chloroquine phosphate, petazine injections, gentamycin, and other injectable drugs with altered labels,” Omoyeni said.
He added that NAFDAC had earlier tracked some of these fake drugs to a shop at Ogbo-Ogu Bridge Head Market in Onitsha, Anambra State. That shop served as a major supply point to unsuspecting buyers.
According to NAFDAC, the fake products were originally expired medicines. The syndicate cleaned and rebranded them with fake expiry dates and fresh packaging.
Factory May Be Seized by NAFDAC
The Director of NAFDAC in the South-East Zone, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, said the agency plans to seize the uncompleted building used for the drug business. He condemned the activities of illegal drug traders and said they put the lives of Nigerians in danger.
“Only God knows how many people have died from consuming these drugs. These people are killing others just to make money,” Iluyomade said.
“They moved from Ogbo-Ogu Market to hide in uncompleted buildings in Asaba to continue this deadly trade,” he added.
He explained that the prime suspect, Ekene Igwe, is a well-known drug trader at the Bridge Head Market. His group has been involved in the illegal drug business for years.
NAFDAC said it received a tip-off from concerned citizens and is now working hard to arrest the main suspect. His wife will soon appear in court to answer for her role in the illegal activities.
Iluyomade urged Nigerians to remain alert and report suspicious drug sales and production in their communities.
“This issue has lasted for years, but this time, NAFDAC is ready with solutions to protect Nigerians,” he stated.
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