Kano seizes N200m fake drugs, vows crackdown on unapproved medicines

Kano State has intensified its efforts to protect public health by seizing counterfeit medicines worth more than N200 million. The Kano State Committee on Motor Parks and Other Public Places conducted the raid within the Kano metropolis, confiscating drugs that lacked approval from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The operation, a joint effort involving the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Immigration Service, was initiated based on intelligence reports. Maj. Adamu Abubakar-Usman (Rtd), the committee's Chairman, led the raid, emphasizing the danger posed by unapproved drugs stored in poor conditions.

"These drugs lacked NAFDAC certification and therefore pose a serious danger to public health, especially to women and children," Abubakar-Usman stated. He further noted that storing medicines improperly, particularly under extreme heat and in unsanitary environments, can compromise their effectiveness and lead to severe harm, especially for unapproved products.

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These drugs lacked NAFDAC certification and therefore pose a serious danger to public health, especially to women and children.

The committee plans to continue collaborating with security and health agencies to combat fake drug trafficking and ensure offenders face prosecution. Dr. Danyaro Ali-Yakasai, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Policy and Special Development, urged the public to verify medicine authenticity and report suspicious sellers, reiterating the state government's commitment to preventing activities that endanger citizens' lives.

Confiscated items included 55 cartons of Super Sexy, 144 cartons of Bold Brown/Body Bliss, 70 cartons of Lion King/Hygra, and three sacks of empty packs.

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Storing drugs under excessive heat and poor sanitary conditions can compromise their efficacy and cause serious harm to consumers, particularly when they are not approved by the relevant authorities.