Busted! Syndicate producing fake Peak milk, water for injection

A syndicate involved in the production of counterfeit alcoholic beverages, water for injection and sales of suspected imitation of Peak Milk has been busted by officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC.

The syndicate was arrested following intelligence received on illegal production, distribution and sales of suspected counterfeit alcoholic beverages at Ezedams Enterprises Nigeria Limited located at km 16 Badagry Expressway, Ojo, owned by one Mrs Nkiru Okoro.

The agency also revealed that a transport vehicle containing suspected counterfeit Peak Milk products bound for Lagos from the East, was intercepted following surveillance and on inspection, several cartons of the Peak Milk products (batch numbers 28 2C; PD 04:16; BB 12:17 suspected to be counterfeit were discovered and seized.

Further investigation by the agency also led to the discovery and arrest of the owner, Mr Onyekachi Ikegwuonu.

The agency also revealed that on 24th February 2017, Mr Daniel Ezekwelu was arrested by the Federal Task Force on Fake and Counterfeit for production of fake water for injection within two compounds at Ojoto village near Nnewi, Anambra state.

During the raid, two under aged girls were found filling and sealing the fake water for injection under the cover of Mr. Daniel Ezekwelu. The production takes place between 8:00am and 3:00 pm every day, while the finished products are transported to the market at night.

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Items recovered include plastic containers, gas cylinders and packs of the fake water for injection labelled “Sterilised water for injection BP” with manufacturing date 2015 and expiry date 2020 and said to be produced by Hossanna Laboratories Limited, Surrey. The product is packed as 100 x 10ml vials.

Also, on the 2nd February, 2017, according to NAFDAC, one Mr. Ejike Okereke (M), 46 years old of St. James street Iyiowa, Onitsha was arrested for counterfeiting Codrux Cough Syrup.

The original cough syrup is manufactured by Alben Pharmaceutical Company located in Onitsha. In the course of interrogation, he revealed that one Ifeanyi who is still at large approached him to counterfeit the product.

Reports say all the cases were diligently investigated and it was discovered that the three cases were hatched and executed by the same syndicate. The professional criminal group according to findings is an international gang headed by Mr Eze Okoronkwo, a Nigerian who is resident in Aba, Abia state.

The other alleged Nigerian collaborators are Mr Ndukwe Darlington Ukonu, Mr Nwabugo Okoro, Miss Ohanaokwu Chinonyen, and one Mr Smart who resides in India.

Commenting on the developments, Mrs. Yetunde Oni, Acting Director General of NAFDAC said; “I can boldly say that NAFDAC is doing everything to ensure that only safe medicine and wholesome food of the right quality are sold to Nigerians. I would like to use this opportunity to solicit for the support of health practitioners, community leaders, religious leaders, the press and all stakeholders to continue to educate their wards and family members to desist from patronizing quacks and hawkers of medicines on the street.

Continuing, she added that; “We further advise consumers of NAFDAC regulated products to be watchful of drug, food and other regulated products they purchase and obtain receipt of payment for same. The general public should not hesitate to report any suspicious activities within their environment to the nearest NAFDAC office”.

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