TheNewsGuru

Tag: Codeine

  • NDLEA nabs grandma, pregnant woman over possession of hard drugs

    NDLEA nabs grandma, pregnant woman over possession of hard drugs

    A 60-year-old grandmother, Mrs. Ibinosun Sandra Esther, and a pregnant woman have been arrested during interdiction operations in which 5,527.15 kilograms of methamphetamine and cannabis sativa, as well as 132,090 tablets of tramadol and 2,000 bottles of codeine were recovered by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA across five states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in the past week.

    The Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), has however directed that the pregnant woman be granted administrative bail pending when she is delivered of her baby and thereafter return for her prosecution because at the time of her arrest, she was in her ninth month of pregnancy.

    The grandma was arrested in Ibadan, Oyo state in a follow up operation following the seizure of 5.5kg Loud variant of cannabis imported into the country from South Africa.

    The consignment, which she claimed was sent to her by her daughter was concealed in two giant Speakers as part of a consolidated cargo that arrived the NAHCO import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos on board an Airpeace Airline flight.

    NDLEA nabs grandma

    In a related development, NDLEA operatives also on Saturday 26th November intercepted 1.4 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed inside custard tins packed among cosmetics and foodstuffs going to Brazil via Doha on a Qatar Airways flight.

    A cargo agent, Salako Omolara Fausat who brought the bag containing the illicit drug to the airport and an intending passenger to Brazil, Anyanwu Christian, who was to travel with the consignment were promptly arrested.

    Another attempt by a freight agent, Adebisi Aina Hafsat to export 3,000 tablets of tramadol concealed in motor spare parts to Banjul, Gambia through the NAHCO export shed was equally thwarted by operatives who seized the consignment and arrested her on Monday 28th Nov, while a follow up operation to Ebute-Meta area of Lagos the following day, Tuesday 29th Nov led to the arrest of the actual owner, Afam Chibuke Stanley, who is a spare parts seller.

    This was followed by the seizure of 100,000 tablets of Royal brand of Tramadol 200mg with a gross weight of 68.90 kilograms imported from Karachi, Pakistan on Ethiopian Airlines at the SAHCO import shed.

    In Abuja, operatives stormed the warehouse of a notorious drug lord and an ex-convict, Ibrahim Momoh, alias Ibrahim Bendel who escaped from prison custody to return to his criminal trade and recovered 81 jumbo bags of cannabis weighing 1,278kgs.

    Though the fleeing drug dealer is still at large and is wanted by the Agency, his warehouse keeper, 55-year-old Ghanaian, Richard Forson Gordon, was arrested.

    Ibrahim Momoh was first arrested on 27th November, 2014 with the same substance weighing 385.1kgs, prosecuted, convicted and sentenced to seven and a half years in prison on 22nd of April, 2020 but escaped from jail after three months.

    Meanwhile, no fewer than 2,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup were seized in a commercial bus by operatives on Friday 2nd December along Lokoja – Abuja expressway.

    In Rivers state, operatives on Saturday 3rd Dec arrested a 29-year-old pregnant woman, Kate Ibinabo with 34.4kgs cannabis sativa in Okrika area of the state.

    In Ondo state, 241 bags of the psychoactive substance with a gross weight of 3,133kg were recovered from a building at Ilale Cashew, Ehinogbe, Owo, on Tuesday 29th Nov. At least, 507.9kgs of cannabis were also seized during a raid at the hideout of a fleeing drug dealer in Mushin area of Lagos on Thursday 1st Dec.

    In Cross River, 53 jumbo bags of C/S weighing 567.05kgs were seized from three suspects: Bassey Boniface Eyibio, 38; Effiong Akiba Etim, 30 and Ngbong Raymond, 45 at Mpara junction, Odukpani LGA on Thursday 1st Dec while conveying the consignment in a bus marked CKK 74 AA. Operatives equally arrested another suspect, Ali Mohammed along Potiskum- Damaturu road after they found 29,090 tablets of tramadol in his personal Honda car marked ABC 914 RW coming from Gombe to Damaturu, Yobe state.

    While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Rivers, Ondo, Lagos, Cross River and Yobe Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, Gen. Marwa charged them and their counterparts across other formations to continue to step up their offensives against drug cartels.

  • Again, NDLEA seizes 1.9million tablets of Tramadol, Codeine at Lagos airport

    Again, NDLEA seizes 1.9million tablets of Tramadol, Codeine at Lagos airport

    Again, within 48hours operatives of the National Drug Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have seized over 1.9 million tablets of Tramadol and Codeine imported into the country from Pakistan and United Kingdom through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports this was contained in a statement issued by the Spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi on Wednesday stating that:

    “Of the total seizures, 40 cartons of Co-Codamol, a brand of paracetamol with Codeine, which is classified as Opioid, were seized from a freight agent, Eraikhueme Ehis.

    “The seizure made on Thursday March 10 translates to 349, 800 tablets weighing 336kg. The consignment came from London, UK as a consolidated cargo through the SAHCO Import Shed of the airport. The consolidated cargo was declared as personal effects but was discovered to contain some medicaments.

    “In the same vein, no less than 1, 584,000 tablets of Tramadol were recovered on Tuesday 15th March by NDLEA operatives in collaboration with Aviation Security (AVSEC) and Customs service personnel at the airport. The seizure includes 17 cartons of 250mg Tramadol branded as “Tamra” weighing 669.70kg and five cartons of 225mg Tramadol under the brand name “Royal” with a gross weight of 217.15kg.

    “The psychotropic substance, which was imported into the country from Pakistan was smuggled through the airport tarmac using one of the vehicles of the Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) and was intercepted at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Personnel Yard. Two suspects: Ofijeh John Mova, a SAHCO driver and Nyam Gazu Alex who is a security guard with the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) have so far been arrested in connection with the seizure.

    “The previous day, Monday 14th March, a total of 2,160 tablets of Co-codamol weighing 1.95kg and 240 tablets of Tramadol were also intercepted in a consolidated cargo from the UK at the SAHCO import shed of the airport. Follow up operations led to the arrest of the importer of the consignment, Omonijo Temidayo the following day Tuesday 15th March.

    Similarly, follow up operations have also led to the arrest of Hajiya Mariam Saliu in Edo state on Monday 14th March after investigations uncovered her as the brain behind attempt to export 1.55kg cannabis to Dubai through the Lagos airport on 5th March.

    Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives have arrested one of the kingpins behind the attempt to smuggle 11.93 kilograms of Cocaine to Accra, Ghana through the Seme land border, Lagos. The 50-year-old suspect, Oyewunmi Ademola Ahmed was arrested on Tuesday 15th March at Mile 2 area of Lagos after series of follow up operation following the arrest of a driver, Osagie Anthony with the 11.913kg cocaine at Gbaji, Seme-Badagry expressway on January 23.

    In Kwara, a drug dealer, Hope John, 30, was arrested on Saturday 19th March at Goodness area of Offa with different quantities of cannabis, methamphetamine, designer drug and cocaine.

    Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has commended the officers and men of the MMIA, Kwara and Seme Border Commands of the Agency for their commitment, dedication to duty and maintaining cordial working relationship with other stakeholders in their areas of responsibility.

  • NDLEA arrests Indian with 134,700 bottles of smuggled codeine

    NDLEA arrests Indian with 134,700 bottles of smuggled codeine

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has arrested an Indian businessman, Vyapak Nutal, over the smuggling of 134,700 bottles of codeine syrup.

    The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja

    Babafemi said that the seized bottles of codeine were being smuggled into the country through the land border between Nigeria and Niger Republic, in Sokoto state.

    He said that the suspect had been taken into custody for interrogation by operatives of the agency.

    “The suspect had loaded the consignment into trucks in Cotonou, Benin Republic, and drove through the land borders via Niger Republic before entering Sokoto state at the Illela border.

    “Settled in a hotel in Sokoto state, credible intelligence reveals that Nutal began to look for buyers for the controlled drug.

    “While operatives were on his trail, officers of the Department of State Security were able to apprehend him and swiftly handed him over to NDLEA on Wednesday 10th February, 2022,” he said.

    In a related development, attempts by drug traffickers to export large quantities of Heroin, Methamphetamine, Khat, Tramadol and Cannabis through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, had been foiled.

    Babafemi said that three courier companies in Lagos, connected with attempts to export the drugs, had been frustrated by narcotic officers who intercepted the illicit consignments.

    He said that operatives on Tuesday, Feb. 8 arrested one, Felix Eshemokhai with 1.75 kgs of heroin while trying to board a Royal Air Maroc to Casablanca, Morocco, at the Lagos airport.

    He added that another trafficker, Okafor Onuzuruike, was also nabbed same day during his bid to travel on Rwanda Air to Dubai with 2.2 kgs of cannabis concealed in foodstuffs.

    “Not less than 25 kilogrammes of Methamaphetamine, Tramadol, Cannabis and Khat were concealed in motor parts, MP3 player, speaker and fabrics.

    “The consignments were heading to USA, UK, Australia, Dubai and Madagascar when they were seized at three major courier companies in Lagos,” he said.

    Babafemi said that 31,000 capsules of Tramadol were recovered from a truck that left Onitsha, in Anambra for Mubi, in Adamawa, and the owner, Ibrahim Tukur, was arrested on Friday Feb. 11 in Gombe state.

    “While attempting to escape, the operatives arrested one Aliu Salami, 43, with 143.9 kgs of cannabis at Oke-Ata, Abeokuta South LGA, Ogun, on Wednesday, Feb. 9.

    In the same vein, Babafemi said that the operatives had arrested a trans-border drug dealer, Shu’aibu Salisu, and his gang with 578 kgs of Cannabis meant for Niger Republic on Tuesday.

    He said that two persons: Gambo Lawal and Ibrahim Mohammed, were arrested while conveying the drugs to someone in Charanchi, Katsina State.

    “A follow up operation led to the arrest of Salisu and two others; Sani Musa and Auwal Amina, the day after at different locations within Kaita LGA, Katsina,” he said.

    Babafemi said that a fake security agent, Mr. Dennis Emadiong, was on Saturday, Feb. 12, arrested at the NDLEA check point, Alaide, Benue.

    He said that the suspect was arrested with 239 grams of cannabis and 10 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition while on his way from Akwa Ibom to Maiduguri, in Borno.

    He said that another suspect, Stephen Folorunsho, was also nabbed during a routine Stop and Search operation, along Apir-Makurdi road with 147 compressed blocks of cannabis.

    This, he said, weighed 130 kgs and stuffed inside bales of used clothes, popularly called Okrika, on his way to Gombe State.

    “In Adamawa, no fewer than 22,700 tablets of Tramadol and Exol-5 were seized in Numan area of the state from two drug dealers.

    “The suspects: – Mmaduabuchibeya Kingsley and Onyeke Kenneth, were arrested in separate raids on Thursday, ” he said.

  • NDLEA intercepts 24,311KG of heroin, codeine in Lagos

    NDLEA intercepts 24,311KG of heroin, codeine in Lagos

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted over 24, 311 kilograms of heroin, codeine, Arizona, and Colorado variants of cannabis in fresh drug busts at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, and the Tincan seaport, Apapa, Lagos state.

    The Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

    He said the first seizure was on Friday, September 3, at the SAHCO export shed of the MMIA where two consignments containing 10.350kg heroin and 25.2kg cannabis from South Africa were intercepted.

    In series of sting operations between September 4 and 6, in different parts of Lagos, four suspects were arrested including Mrs. Bello Kafayat Ayo who was picked from Shino Street, in the Palmgroove area of the state.

    At the Tincan seaport, Apapa, narcotic officers intercepted a 40ft container loaded with 22,590 kilograms of Barcadin Codeine syrup on Monday, September 6, following intelligence received from international partners on the container since May 2021.

    “The container was also found to include 4,020.03kg of analgesic tablets and 47 cartons of insulated hot pots used to conceal the illicit drugs, all imported from India. Equally, on Friday, September 10, a consignment of Colorado weighing 17.5kg and hidden inside a Grand Caravan Dodge vehicle shipped in a 40ft container from Montreal, Canada, was also intercepted and seized at the Tincan port,” the statement read.

  • NDLEA intercepts 100,000 bottles of codeine syrup at Onne Port –spokesman

    NDLEA intercepts 100,000 bottles of codeine syrup at Onne Port –spokesman

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) has intercepted and seized no fewer than 100,000 bottles of codeine syrup with a total weight of 15,325 kgs at the Onne seaport, Port Harcourt, Rivers state.
    NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, in Abuja.
    Babafemi said that the 100mg illicit cough syrup with codeine packed in 500 cartons and concealed in a container marked MRKU 1565305, bearing made in India imported face masks, was discovered on Thursday, 10th June.
    The syrup was found in a warehouse at the Onne port complex during a joint examination by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, (NCS) State Security Service and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC), among others, he added.
    He said that the seizure followed intelligence received by the NDLEA, as a result of which the container was detained and moved to the Customs’ government warehouse within the port complex.
    The NDLEA spokesman added that no importer or agent had, however, come forward to claim the container, but that efforts were ongoing to track the owner for further investigation and prosecution.
    In a related development, NDLEA operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, (NAIA), have seized nine cartons of khat, weighing 146.95 kgs at the cargo wing of the airport.
    Babafemi said that the consignment, packaged as dried green tea, was shipped from Addis Ababa, on board an Ethiopian airline flight ET911.
    “After initial examination, suspicion was raised when a clearing agent was asked to report with the consignee before release, but failed to do so, for fear of arrest.
    “And this development led to a laboratory test on the consignment, which tested positive to khat and the eventual seizure.
    Babafemi quoted the Chairman, (NDLEA) retired Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa as hailing the synergy between various government agencies at the Onne port.
    He charged them not to rest on their oars as they continued working hard daily, to keep Nigeria safe.
    In particular, he commended the Commander, officers and men of the Port Command in the Rivers capital, and their Abuja airport Command counterparts, for their vigilance and commitment to the task of ridding Nigeria of illicit drugs.
    “The damage 100,000 bottles of codeine could have done to our youths, if they had slipped through the port to our villages, towns and cities, is unimaginable. 146.95 kgs of khat could have done the same damage if allowed to go unto our streets.
    “We’ll continue to motivate our officers and men so that they can give their best in the discharge of their responsibilities across the country.
    “We will ultimately, with the support of all our stakeholders and partners, win the battle against illicit drug trafficking and abuse”, he said.

  • FG recalls alarming number of cough syrup containing codeine

    The Federal Ministry of Health has recalled 2.4 million bottles of cough syrup containing codeine after a recent audit of the substance carried out by National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

    According to a statement by Mrs Boade Akinola, Director Media and Public Relations of the ministry on Sunday in Abuja, the recall demonstrated the Federal Government’s resolve to stem the abuse of codeine and other substances in Nigeria.

    Akinola said the minister had recently received the final report of the 22-man Stakeholders Committee set up by the Ministry to address the worrisome menace of codeine abuse in Nigeria.

    She quoted the Minister of Health Prof Isaac Adewole as saying that the audit trail and subsequent recall of the substance was part of recommendations of Stakeholders Committee set by the ministry to address codeine abuse in Nigeria.

    The minister said the committee members were drafted from a broad spectrum of the health sector in collaboration with relevant agencies as part of Pharmacovigilance and renewed effort to monitor drug distribution channels and sanitise the system.

    The Minister recalled that the committee was an offshoot of the Press release issued by the Ministry on the temporary ban of Codeine production and distribution.

    He said the committee has Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Christianah Adeyeye as the chairman. Other members include Muhammad Abdullahi, Chairman of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Elijah Mohamed, the Registrar of Pharmacists Council of Nigeria; Mr Moshood Lawal, Director, Food and Drugs Services, Federal Ministry of Health; Ahmed Yakasai, President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) among others.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on May 1, Federal Government banned the production and importation of codeine as active pharmaceutical ingredient for cough syrup preparations to check substance abuse among Nigerians.

    The minister directed NAFDAC to ban the issuance of permits for the importation of codeine as active pharmaceutical ingredient for cough preparations.

    He also directed the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria, (PCN) and NAFDAC to supervise the recall for labelling and audit trailing of all codeine containing cough syrups nationwide.

    The federal government had also banned the sale of cough syrup containing codeine without prescription.
    In this regard, the minister said PCN had been directed to continue enforcement activities on pharmacies, patent and proprietary medicine vendors’ shops and outlets throughout the country.

    He also directed NAFDAC to carry out its functions in compliance with the new directives.

    The minister said cough syrups containing codeine should be replaced with dextromethorphan which is less addictive.

    Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant used to treat coughing. It is also a drug of the morphinan class with sedative, dissociative, and stimulant properties.

     

  • Codeine abuse: FG orders NAFDAC to return to ports

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has ordered the agency to return to the ports immediately.

    The order came less than three weeks after the NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, partly ascribed the drug abuse among youths to the unlawful importation of certain banned substances.

    The agency said in a statement on Thursday that the directive to return to the ports was to effectively control the importation of unregulated products, falsified and substandard drugs, unwholesome foods, narcotic drugs and hazardous chemical substances and foods.

    The statement read in part, “NAFDAC in collaboration with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies and with the active support of the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, and the Ministry of Transport, has been returned to the seaports and borders to effectively control importation of unregulated products, falsified and substandard drugs, unwholesome foods, narcotic drugs and hazardous chemical substances and foods.

    “NAFDAC received the notice on May 16, 2018, in a letter dated March 29, 2018, from the office of the Vice-President, as part of the PEBEC reforms.”

    Adeyeye had said recently that thousands of Nigerians had died as a result of falsified and substandard medicines.

    She had further stated that many were ill, most likely due to unwholesome foods, drugs and abuse of narcotics and controlled substances, such as codeine, tramadol and pentazocine.

    “These are partly due to the exclusion of NAFDAC from our ports since 2011. The recent documentary on codeine abuse brought more attention to the issue,” she had said.

    The NAFDAC boss promised to work with the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and other sister agencies in ensuring that foods, drugs, chemicals and other NAFDAC regulated products that pose danger to Nigerians were controlled at the point of entry.

    Adeyeye said NAFDAC at the ports would ensure that dangerous drugs or substances of abuse, many times falsely shipped as building materials, electrical appliances and computer accessories would be intercepted at the point of entry.

  • CPC laud NAFDAC actions on abuse of codeine

    Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has commended the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for its decisive regulations, actions on production and distribution of Codeine.

    Director-General of the council, Mr Babatunde Irukera, made the commendation in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

    Irukera said that the council welcomed all meaningful efforts to address the rising cases of “abusive consumption of controlled substances’’.

    He revealed the council on April 10, issued an “Advisory’’ that publicly called for a ban and prohibition on the prescription of cough medication containing Codeine.

    However, Irukera said the outright ban of the product by NAFDAC was commendable.

    “Protecting citizens’ addiction and the harm done by abuse of controlled substances must remain a priority always, to the exclusion and sometimes, at the expense of commercial considerations.

    “The council will deploy its entire apparatus and resources to support NAFDAC, Ministry of Health, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and other relevant agencies to enforce this ban.

    “It will deploy resources to also prevent access to codeine and similar addictive substances.

    “The council advocates and encourages a strong and zero tolerance approach to access distribution or proliferation of these substances or any combination of chemical properties that have similar effect.

    “We will also ensure that production and availability of legitimate medication remain inviolate and uncompromised,” Irukera said.

    NAN

  • Codeine ban: NDLEA arrests 17 suspects in Ilorin

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kwara Ccommand, has arrested 17 suspects in different parts of the state while trying to smuggle the drug to other destinations for sale.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Federal Government had banned companies from producing codeine.

    Addressing newsmen on Thursday in Ilorin, the state Commander of the NDLEA, Mr Onah Ogilegwu, said his men arrested 13 suspects with assorted drugs in different locations across the state.

    He said: “13 suspects were arrested at various locations by the Air Force authority in Ilorin and transferred to the command with assorted hard drugs,” he said.

    Ogilegwu stated that the Command on Saturday nabbed another two suspects with 12 cartons of codeine containing 600 bottles of the product.

    “The two suspects were in the taxi trying to travel down north with the drug but my men intercepted their car and while checking they discovered 12 cartons of codeine.

    “They confessed that they are travelling to Kaduna with the drugs to deliver them to a man.

    “They said that they have been involved and making money from the business for a very long time.”

    He added that on Tuesday another two suspects were arrested along Tanke area, Ilorin, by personel of the agency.

    “Surveillance was placed in the area following a tip off. Men of the command swung into action and the two suspects arrested are presently undergoing investigation,” he explained.

    Ogilegwu charged all drug sellers and producers to abide by directives to submit banned substances in order to receive commendation from the command,” adding that failure to do so will lead to arrest of culprits.

    He added that other assorted drugs like Tramadol should be placed on poison box by the pharmacists and should be sold strictly on medical doctor’s recommendation.

    “Any other vendor found selling drugs aside licensed pharmacists will face the wrath of the law when arrested,” he warned.

    He also urged the Federal Government to fast track a bill to ban production, sales and distribution of the drugs.

    NAN

  • Codeine saga: Senator Sani kicks against Emzor closure

    Codeine saga: Senator Sani kicks against Emzor closure

    Kaduna Central District Senator Shehu Sani has kicked against the closure of Emzor pharmaceutical company by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

    TheNewsGuru reports Emzor and two other pharmaceutical companies were shutdown by NAFDAC after being implicated in a BBC investigation on illegal manufacturing and distribution of codeine-containing syrup.

    In a statement by NAFDAC, Peace Standard Pharmaceutical Limited, Bioraj Pharmaceutical Limited and Emzor were shut for apparent resistance to provide needed documents during the organisation’s inspection in Ilorin and Lagos on May 2.

    “Earlier on April 30, 2018, a day before the BBC documentary was aired, having seen the preview, Mojisola Adeyeye, the director general, had a meeting with technical directors of NAFDAC. She outlined the steps to be taken to strengthen the weakness in the control of the manufacturing and distribution of codeine-containing medicines as demonstrated in the documentary.

    “One of the recommendations of the meeting was that NAFDAC should immediately deploy officers from its inspection and enforcement directorate (I&E) to inspect the alleged companies.

    “A team of nine NAFDAC officers and ten mobile police officers were sent to Ilorin on May 2, 2018 to carry out investigational inspection at the companies of the two different pharmaceutical companies that are licensed to manufacture codeine-containing syrup, and which were implicated in the BBC documentary.

    “The same investigational inspection by a different NAFDAC team took place on the same day and time as the Ilorin companies at the manufacturing facility of Emzor Pharmaceuticals Industry Limited, Ajao Estate, Lagos.

    “The focus of the assignment was to access and monitor from records the utilization, sales and effective distribution of the codeine containing cough syrups to the end users,” that statement read.

    “The shutdown of Emzor and the two other pharmaceutical companies by NAFDAC is an overkill,” Sani said, stressing that “Issues of violations if actually true, can be penalized with proportionate sanctions”.

    According to Sani, “Such reputable companies doing legitimate business and employing thousands of Nigerians must not be ruined”.

    Meanwhile, Emzor, on Tuesday insisted that only one production site of its firm was shut, contrary to claims that the entire company was shut.

    In a series of tweets on its Twitter handle, Emzor said NAFDAC only sealed its liquid line. It said the rest of its manufacturing operation was going on normally.

    The firm said NAFDAC sealed the line five days after carrying out an inspection on the site. It added that the regulator raised no issues at the time of the inspection, only for it to return later to close the line without explanation.

    The tweet was in reaction to a press statement from NAFDAC that it has sealed off all the production lines of three pharmaceutical companies which were implicated in a BBC documentary on illegal codeine sale in Nigeria.

    “Due to insufficient evidence gathered and apparent resistance to provide needed documents during our inspection on May 2, 2018, at the respective companies in Ilorin and Lagos, respectively, it has become necessary to shut down all the product lines of the three companies – Peace Standard Pharmaceutical Limited, plots 3 & 8, Adewole Industrial Estate, Lubcon Avenue, Ilorin, Kwara State; Bioraj Pharmaceutical Limited, 405 Kaima Road, Ilorin, Kwara State and Emzor Pharmaceuticals Ind. Ltd., Ajao Estate, Lagos. This is to allow for a full and comprehensive investigation. The three companies, therefore, remain closed,” the regulator said.

    Emzor, however, denied the claim. The company’s statement reads:

    “NAFDAC have only temporarily sealed one of Emzor’s production sites, the liquid line. The rest of Emzor is still operating as normal. On Wednesday the 2nd of May NAFDAC inspected one of our production sites where Emzolyn with Codeine was made. There were given full access and our complete cooperation, with no issues raised at the time.

    “On Monday the 7th of May, NAFDAC sealed the inspected site without giving us a reason nor an explanation of what the violation of the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Code was and it will be wrong for us to speculate as to the reason why.

    “Emzor continues to make good quality affordable medicines for the Nigerian public and the products are still available to buy. We believe in Emzor Wellocracy, unlimited wellness available to all and affordable by all.”