If the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC) has it’s way, punishment for drug counterfeiters would be more more severe.
The agency which is already reviewing the current law on counterfeiting is seeking life jail term and confiscation of assets of offenders.
The current law stipulates a fine of N500, 000.00 or 15 year jail term upon conviction of offenders involved in the sale, distribution, importation and advertisement of counterfeit regulated products.
But NAFDAC Director General, Paul Orhii noted that to make the law serve as a deterrent, culprit should be made to serve a longer jail term including other punishment like forfeiture of assets among others.
Orhii spoke on Thursday at a stakeholders meeting on quality monitoring of medicines in Nigeria, organized by NAFDAC, in collaboration with USAID and United States Pharmacopeia (USP) held in Abuja.
WHO estimates that in wealthy economies, counterfeits account for less than 1% of the market value, but 50% of internet sales are counterfeits. While in emerging economies, counterfeits are estimated at 10% whilst, in some parts of the developing world counterfeits are put at about 30%.
The Pharmaceutical Security Institute data estimates that drug
counterfeiting is a $75billion business while the World Customs Service puts it at $200 billion business annually.
He noted that as regulators, the agency is faced with numerous challenges – the major one being the counterfeiting of regulated products.
He however said that as part of the efforts to contain the activities of the counterfeiters, the agency is thinking with reviewing the current law current law for a more severe one.
In his remarks at the occasion, Vice President of the Global Health Impact Programs and Director of the USAID promoting the Quality of Medicines Program (PQM), Mr. Patrick Lukulay, said that the country is billed to benefit from a technical assistance Programme signed with Nigeria some months ago.
The assistance will see the country getting support for local drug producers as it would focus on drug manufacturers.
He also noted that it would provide technical assistance on Good Manufacturing Practices ( GMP), facilitation of on-site assessment of facilities, and feed back on Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA).
The Programme he added among other things would expedite World Health Organization (WHO) pre-qualification process by increasing company readiness at no cost to them.
Tag: drug
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NAFDAC wants life jail for drug counterfeiters
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How airport staff aided drug suspect- NDLEA
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has foiled a plot by some airport staff to aid a suspected drug trafficker in circumventing security checks.
A suspected drug trafficker, Adetunji Oladeji Joseph was arrested while wearing an official tarmac reflective jacket posing as an airport staff . He ingested 100 wraps of cocaine weighing 1.350kg. Adetunji was illegally taken to the boarding gates at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos by a female cleaner.
The alleged mastermind is a driver with the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr Olatubosun Michael Olatunji. A female cleaner, Mrs Uzoma David and one Mr Ekene Victor Uchenna have been found to be part of the drug racket.
The NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade while describing the incident as an act of sabotage promised to prosecute all persons involved in the criminal act as deterrence to others. He however expressed disappointment over the lack of trust exhibited by the members of staff.
“It is disappointing for workers at the airport community to indulge in such high level compromise. Their action is inimical and a calculated attempt to undermine security measures at the airport. They will be prosecuted for others to see the bitter consequences of compromise. Drug barons always seek to corrupt officials through bribery but we are working to counter such acts of infiltration” Giade stated.
He thanked the management of FAAN and other security Agencies over what he described as excellent cooperation spirit. According to NDLEA boss, “I am very pleased with the support and excellent cooperation spirit of the management of FAAN and other Agencies. It exemplifies team spirit and synergy at its best. The arrest and hand over of Olatunbosun Michael Olatunji by FAAN for investigation is commendable”.
NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport Mr Hamza Umar said that the incident took place on the 7th of February 2013 but the main culprits were only arrested just this weekend. “This is a high level case of aiding and abetting so we took our time in trying to arrest all parties to the crime. Let me also appreciate the support of security agencies at the airport especially FAAN” Hamza stated.
Preliminary investigation revealed that one Mr Ekene Victor Uchenna, a staff with Avobridge who is currently at large gave his reflective jacket and on duty tag to the suspect. He also handed the suspect to a female cleaner Mrs Uzoma David who led him to the boarding gate to evade screening. The airport staff also collected an undisclosed amount of money to aid the suspect.
Mr Ekene has been declared wanted by the Agency. It was gathered that he was involved in examination fraud at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos where he is studying Mechanical Engineering at Higher National Diploma Level. Since the incident occurred, he had been on the run.
Another suspected member of the drug cartel, Peter Chidibere a trader at Trade Fair Complex, Lagos has been arrested by the NDLEA. He is currently being interrogated by narcotic officials. It was gathered that necessary arrangements for Adetunji Oladeji Joseph to smuggle the drugs.
Meanwhile, Giade said investigation is on-going and more arrests are expected.
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Man, 58, held for drug counterfeiting
It 58, Nne Ikenna should be a good example for young people. But no, he attempted to go for fast bucks through drug counterfeiting and distribution. He was caught.
Police operatives stormed his 5, Arochukwu Street, Ilamoshe, Ejigbo, Lagos home, where he had reportedly been perpetrating the illegal business for years.
Ikenna was arrested on March 15 by operatives led by the Divisional Police Officer of Ejigbo Police Station, Mr Oliver Inoma-Abbey.
Ikenna’s premises were cordoned off by operatives who trailed him for several days before he was apprehended.
The operatives were surprised to discover that he was solely in charge of the business.
The Nation gathered that after a search of his home, two packing machines, one blistering machine, five counterfeited Albendazole (Zentel) tablets, large quantities of fake Albendazole packed in 10 big bags; large quantity of printed packets for packaging Albendazole and Levonorgestrel (Postioor2) tablets and 37 cartons of leaflets for packaging Zentel tablets, were recovered.
Ikenna said he was not alone in the business. He added: “When I returned from India, one Mr Uche bought the machines for me to be blistering drugs for him. He also imports the drugs and distributes them. I do not know where he sells them or who he takes them to. I do my own work and get paid.”
On how much he takes, the suspect said: “Uche pays me N20,000 for every carton I blister and N35,000 monthly for making use of my premises”.
Ikenna added: “The drugs are not fake. I take them with members of my family. I was only trying to help somebody. I did not know that what we were doing was illegal.”
Command’s spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said investigation was ongoing and efforts to arrest the distributors and recover the drugs from the market had begun.
She added that after investigations, Ikenna and the recovered items would be transferred to the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), for further questioning.
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Kano shuts 5,000 drug shops at Rimi Market
THE Kano State Government has sealed the popular Sabon Gari Drug Market after the expiration of the December 31, deadline.
Despite the ongoing litigation between the government and the patent medicine dealers’ association, the Musa Kwankwaso administration sealed the 5,000 shops.
Barely 24 hours after the closure, the state branch of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) assured the public that the government would ensure better access to quality drugs.
The government gave the deadline following the alleged concentration and sale of fake and adulterated drugs in the market.
In a statement in Kano by its Chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Gana Mohammed, the PSN noted that the government’s decision is in the best interest of the people.
The statement reads: “We assure you that the decision of the government to close the market is in the best interest of Kano people and all beneficiaries of pharmaceutical services.”
It explained that the residents can buy prescribed drugs from government hospitals, registered pharmaceutical premises and patent medicine shops, including Lafia Jari shops.
Also, the Chairman said a list and addresses of registered manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and distributors would be announced on radio and published in newspapers for bulk purchase drugs.
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Man gets 10 years for drug peddling
A FORTY five-year old drug dealer, Martin Ikechukwu, was yesterday sentenced to a 10-year imprisonment for unlawful importation of cocaine.
Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos, held that he was an unrepentant convict.
Justice Benedicta Molokwu will also sentence him in a similar case next Tuesday.
Ikechukwu was arrested in Lagos on February 23,2010 for possession of one kilogramme of cocaine, which he imported from Brazil.
He was arraigned before Justice Mohammed Liman of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on April 1 in the same year. He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail.
But mid-way into the trial, Ikechukwu absconded.
He was arrested two months ago at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, for unlawfully importing another consignment of 9.5kg of liquid cocaine from Brazil.
He was arraigned before Justice Molokwu on a one-count charge.
He pleaded guilty. Justice Molokwu adjourned the matter till November 26.
Prosecution lawyer Raphael Hinmikaiye of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday told Justice Buba that Ikechukwu had been re-arrested and charged before Justice Molokwu. Justice Buba ordered Ikechukwu to appear before his court.
The accussed appeared in court on Wednesday and was re-arraigned on the earlier charge.
He pleaded guilty and Justice Buba adjourned the matter till yesterday for a review of facts and sentencing.
On being told by Hinmikaiye that the accused had pleaded guilty before another judge, Justice Buba sentenced him to 10 years.
Justice Buba held that his guilty plea was not an indication of his being remorseful, but because he no longer has an escape route.