NAFDAC seizes fake vaccine drugs valued about N3million at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Wednesday, November 13th, 2013

IGNATIUS OKPARA, Enugu

National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has confiscated two boxes of fake Dano Tetanus vaccine drugs valued at 3 million naira.

The fake vaccine was smuggled into the country by an Ethiopian airline that landed at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

The agency’s Head at the Airport, Mr John Okwori disclosed this to newsmen on Tuesday in Enugu.

He said the fake drugs were seized on Oct. 25th, 2013, during the teams’ physical inspection at the airport following the arrival of an Ethiopian airline with registration number, ET Flight 931.

Okwori, explained that through intelligence report, NAFDAC officers were able to seize the fake drugs loaded in some boxes.

He said, “On October 25th , we noticed that two strange boxes that were brought by an Ethiopian airline, were left unattended to, and besides, there were no passengers around to claim them”.

“On close marking by our officers, we saw some Ethiopians Airline staff
dragging the boxes through another exit rather than the normal exit way so, we interrupted them and queried where they were dragging the boxes to”.

“But they could not give us any satisfactory response; hence, we had no option than to seize the items”.

He said the two boxes were put on hold at the airport while investigation continues, with a view to finding out why they were unaccompanied according the airline staff.

According to the NAFDAC officer, “Based on the unsatisfactory information the airline staff gave us, I directed their management that the owner of the drugs should be contacted to appear in person” .

“I insisted that if we do not see him within one week that we shall alert the public and security agencies,”

“So, because of my threat, “the owner of the fake drugs, one Mr. D. Iwuanyanwu, had to appeared on November 4th, which was a week later to plead for the release of the boxes, and that made us to alert the airport police to apprehend him” .

Okwori, stated that NAFDAC preliminary investigation revealed that Iwuanyanwu, played some pranks with some of the airline staff, saying on arrival, he disappeared, with the hope of coming to pick the boxes later.

“In that circumstance, NAFDAC, in collaboration with the police, State Security Service (SSS), Air force and other Security Agencies forcefully open the two boxes. “In the first box, we discovered 224 packets of fake Dano Tetanus Vaccine and in the second box, we also discovered 220, totaling 444 packs”, Okwori hinted.

He said the agency could not see any temperature monitor card in the boxes which is one of the rules in the importation of biological drugs.

“The drugs were not declared to the agency, the drugs were not permitted to be imported, in fact, the drugs were improperly imported”, he declared.

“Had this drugs gotten to its destination it would have been so hazardous to the public, and from my calculation, over 200, 000 children would have been affected in this condition we found this fake drugs”,