NAFDAC raids Aba market. arrests over fake products

On Tuesday, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Lagos officials raided the Eziukwu Market in Aba, Abia State. The team was led by Uche Chidi Uzoma, Chief Regulatory Officer, Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, NAFDAC, Lagos.

During the raid, two traders who were alleged to be involved in the sale of fake “Instant cold water starch” product were arrested. Their shops were sealed and hundreds of cartons of the fake product worth several millions of Naira were seized.

According to Mr Uche, “we seized about 100 cartons of the fake product and we are going to send them for laboratory analysis to confirm the status and from there, we take it on. Once the product is confirmed to be fake, those arrested are going to be prosecuted, of course, with the approval of the management.”

He said two people were arrested but that investigations were still ongoing as more arrests would be made in the course of investigation and that the agency had spread its dragnet to ensure that the fake product in other markets was confiscated.

Olawale Rasaq Omosanya, Territory Manager, South South/South East, Cormart Nig. Ltd., said the company came to know about the faking of its product in August 2014.


He said his company alerted some security agents who arrested some people who were retailing the fake products in Aba and upon interrogation, the arrested traders took the security personnel to Onitsha where the alleged importer was arrested.