NAFDAC destroys 5m herbal products, nabs manufacturer

                                        
The National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed fake and adulterated herbal products worth over N5 million been manufactured and distributed within the South-East.
NAFDAC South-East Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Celestine Nwuruku, told newsmen in Onitsha on Thursday that the Enugu State Coordinator of the agency, Mr Ikechukwu Okoye, led a team that carried out the destruction exercise in Enugu metropolis.
Nwuruku said that the manufacturer, who also serves as the sole south-east regional distributor of the unwholesome herbal product, Mr Aloysius Ugwuoti, was apprehended by the agency.
He said that the NAFDAC boss had handed over the culprit, Ugwuoti, to the Enugu Police Command for further investigation.
He noted that the destruction would be a deterrent to discourage counterfeiters from venturing into production of unwholesome and fake herbal products.
``The manufacturer of the fake herbal product, one Aloysius Ugwuoti, have been arrested and handled over to the police; while investigation is still on.
``The suspect operated an illegal factory along Okpara Avenue in the heart of Enugu metropolis where he carried out the concocted mixture of herbal products and sold to unsuspecting members of the public,’’ he said.
The PRO also revealed that the environment where the herbal products were been produced was hygienically unsafe.
``His hidden production site where he mixed the concoction is under a tree with toilet beside it,’’ he said.
He, however, urged members of the public to join NAFDAC in its efforts to rid the country of counterfeit, substandard and unwholesome products through prompt information on activities of dubious foods and drugs makers around them.