The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered a cache of weapons concealed at the Ogbo Ogwu Bridge Head Market in Onitsha, Anambra State.
The discovery was made during a targeted operation on the drug sections of the market, part of NAFDAC’s ongoing efforts to combat the proliferation of counterfeit pharmaceuticals across the country.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday, Martins Iluyomade, NAFDAC’s south-east zonal director, disclosed that the agency’s enforcement team encountered rifles, live cartridges, and other dangerous weapons carefully hidden by unidentified individuals.
This alarming find, according to Iluyomade, was reportedly intended to thwart NAFDAC’s operations and possibly harm enforcement officers.
Expressing astonishment at the development, Iluyomade highlighted that the crackdown, which commenced on February 10, had already led to the seizure of 50 trailer loads of counterfeit and substandard drugs.
These seized drugs have since been transported to NAFDAC’s laboratories for rigorous testing and analysis.
“In addition to uncovering significant quantities of illicit drugs, our security team recovered a range of weapons including machetes, a dagger, and firearms,” Iluyomade stated during the press briefing.
“We have also apprehended suspects attempting to forcibly access shops or disrupt our operations.”
Acknowledging the cooperation of market leaders throughout the operation, Iluyomade praised their support and assured the public that certain sections of the market would soon reopen.
He further indicated that NAFDAC is prepared to initiate the next phase of its enforcement efforts to ensure public health and safety.
The discovery of weapons amidst efforts to combat counterfeit drugs underscores the challenges faced by NAFDAC in its mission to safeguard public health and maintain regulatory integrity in Nigeria’s markets.
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