PCN Seals 505 Illegal Drug Stores in Cross River

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has taken decisive action against illegal drug operations in Cross River State, sealing 505 premises during a recent four-day enforcement exercise. The operation revealed a stark reality: nearly half of all inspected shops were operating outside the council's regulatory framework.

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In the inspection exercise, we uncovered 291 illegal outlets. All of them were totally sealed on the spot, along with 54 pharmacies and 160 patent medicine stores found in breach of regulations and establishment guidelines.

Across 10 local government areas, the PCN inspected 602 premises. The findings indicated that 48.3% were operating illegally. This included 291 completely illegal outlets, which were sealed immediately. Additionally, 54 registered pharmacies and 160 patent medicine stores were found to be in breach of regulatory requirements and establishment guidelines.

Registrar of the council, Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed, represented by Dr. Suleiman Chiroma, highlighted the seriousness of these violations. He noted that non-compliance ranged from operating without valid licenses and poor storage conditions to the unauthorized sale of controlled medicines and the improper training of apprentices. Such practices, he warned, could facilitate the diversion of drugs to criminal networks.

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The recent case of Mrs Ezea Asidora Kamchekwube, who ran two unlicensed shops in Calabar and was recently sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment by the Federal High Court, is a signal and proof that Pharmacy Council of Nigeria enforcement now carries real legal weight, not just administrative sanctions.

Chiroma emphasized that the PCN's enforcement efforts now carry significant legal weight. He pointed to the recent eight-year imprisonment of Mrs. Ezea Asidora Kamchekwube by the Federal High Court for running two unlicensed shops in Calabar as a clear signal of the consequences. The council also issued 13 compliance directives, giving operators a chance to rectify their infractions. However, only 42.5% of inspected registered pharmacies and 26.8% of patent medicine vendors met the required standards, indicating a broader issue of compliance even among licensed operators.

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These premises are operated by quacks and untrained persons who are not accountable to any statutory authority.