Police intercept 33 bags of Indian hemp

Kaduna State Police Command Monday intercepted 33 bags of Indian hemp and 34 baskets of hard drugs in Kaduna metropolis.

This was also as National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Kaduna State office, arrested one Mr. Emeka Mbonu in Kaduna for production and sale of unregistered drug product.

The fake pharmacist was arrested while trying to purchase pharma bottles used by pharmaceutical companies and realizing that he was not a pharmacist or owns a pharmaceutical outlet; NAFDAC was alerted by his would be seller.

Briefing Journalists, the State Coordinator of NAFDAC, Mr. Kenneth Azikiwe urged the general public to partner with the Agency in the reduction of unwholesome products from the state.

Azikiwe said, they can do this by alerting the Agency of counterfeiter in their domain so that the health of the populace can be safeguarded.

He added that on further interrogation, it was discovered that Mr. Mbonu has been on the run from the Agency, Kaduna State for the past six months on suspicion of the production and sale of unregistered Mist Potassium Citrate B.P.C in Kaduna Central Market where he used to have a shop.

He said it was also discovered that the suspect was still involved in the illegal manufacturing which led the NAFDAC officers to his residence in Mararaba Rido; outskirt of the state.

“At his residence, he was found to be using one of his rooms for production and producing under unhygienic conditions. He informed the officers that he only produces on order and distributes to the rural areas because he was being haunted in the city by NAFDAC and people were not patronizing him.

“The Mist Potassium Citrate B.P.C found in his residence had fake NAFDAC registration number, manufacturing and expiry dates including batch number. The manufacturing address reads Renge Production (Nig.) Ltd. 107 Ibrahim Shakaru Street, Tudun Wada, Kano State which is fake.

“Mist Potassium Citrate B.P.C is used in the treatment of urinary tract infection and with the use antibiotics change the alkaline/acidity of the urine”. NAFDAC Officer said.

He said that the culprit will be prosecuted in the law court to deter others from engaging in such activity.

In a related development, Kaduna State Police Command intercepted 33 bags of Indian hemp and 34 baskets of hard drugs in Kaduna metropolis.

The Commissioner of Police, Umar Shehu who displayed the drugs said the Police arrested over 150 suspects who are presently being prosecuted in courts.

The Police Commissioner added that, the Police also recovered 10 bags of Indian hemp in ‘Bacco Bags’, 10 cartoons of hard drugs and 17 jerrycans of liquid toxicant acid.

The Commissioner of Police thanked Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai for steering the campaign against illicit drugs in the State.

“As you can see we recorded this achievement in Kaduna town where we intercepted these drugs. We will continue to do our best in containing this menace in view of the negative consequences of drugs in the society.

“Hard drugs are a strong motivation to crime, rape and other vices and we will continue to do our best without a break.

“As you know, the government of Kaduna state under the leadership of Governor El-Rufai has been supportive and we are grateful.”

He said that the Command will hand over the intercepted drugs to National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).