The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye has said her agency has seized over N1.7 trillion worth of tramadol containers since 2018.

She noted that, in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other enforcement agencies, it has ramped up surveillance, particularly at the ports where it was absent between 2011 and 2018.

Concerning the deaths of over 66 children in the Gambia after consuming some brands of cough syrups manufactured by an Indian pharmaceutical company, the D-G urged health care providers to sensitise the public to the dangers of sub-standard products identified in The Gambia and reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) in September this year.

At a briefing in Abuja, Prof. Adeyeye said: “Before now, NAFDAC was not at the port for seven years (2011 to 2018).

“We have seized over N1.7 trillion worth of tramadol containers since then.”

Concerning the killer cough syrups, she said the agency has put measures in place to prevent their entry into the country.

“The public is advised to report any suspicious activity to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) (+2348093322644) or the Department of State Services (DSS) (+2349153391309).

“For matters of international dimension, call UK Interpol (+44 797 115 3192) or the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (+1-800-225-5324).”

Source: The Nation