Two pharmacies and a medicine store in the Idumota and Surulere zones of Lagos were shuttered on Thursday by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for selling regulated and unregistered drugs.
According to Mr. Afolabi Aderemi, Deputy Director of the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate of NAFDAC, the operation was conducted after intelligence reports about the warehouses were received.
The reason we’re here today, according to Aderemi, is because we received information that these stores sell controlled substances.
Because of the International Convention, 71 medications cannot be supplied by anybody, even pharmacists, and there is proof that these closed stores are involved in illicit trade.
“The problem is that we’re dealing with organized crime here, and NAFDAC is making every effort to prevent the sale of illegal drugs.”
Further investigation into the closed businesses has been extended to their proprietors, he said, and they have been invited to the NAFDAC headquarters.