NAFDAC Busts Drug Cartel Behind Importation Of Tramadol, Other Banned Substances Worth Over N105m

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it has uncovered a cartel responsible for illegal importation and warehousing of some banned and controlled drugs estimated at N105m at Ijora, Lagos State.

According to a statement signed by the Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Moji Christianah and made available to journalists on Friday, the warehouse was stocked with 187 cartons of assorted Tramadol and 49 cartons of Diazepam among other illegally imported, banned and controlled pharmaceutical products.

Adeyeye said that the warehouse and its owners were discovered and apprehended following a tip-off and a coordinated surveillance mounted on the property.

The statement reads: “The agency’s operatives at about 1:00hrs on September 14, 2018 raided a transit warehouse at Ijora Ororo, Lagos State and discovered 187 cartons of assorted Tramadol (120mg, 200mg and 225mg respectively) and more than 49 cartons of Diazepam (a controlled drug) concealed amongst household items including bicycle, used tyres and printers.  “The seized products, valued at N105,650,000 million, have been evacuated from the transit warehouse for necessary action and further investigation,” the statement read.