The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has confiscated hundreds of counterfeit liquid antiseptics and bleaching agents in a raid in Onitsha, Anambra state.

Dr Christiana Esenwah, the Deputy Director, NAFDAC Directorate of Investigation and Enforcement, said on Thursday in Asaba that officials of the task force also nabbed three suspects during the raids.

“These products you are seeing here are counterfeits. These three suspects were arrested with the products in Ochanja and Relief markets in Onitsha on Dec. 14, 2022.

“The raid followed a petition from the makers of the original products.

“The brand owners sent a petition to NAFDAC that their products are being counterfeited in the markets so we moved in and got these three suspects with the products.

“The exhibits recovered from them include over five cartoons filled with the counterfeit products and the suspects are here with us.

“The suspects are undergoing interrogation and after that, they will be prosecuted,” she said.

One of the suspects, who gave his name simply as Emma, said he regretted going into the illicit business.

He said he was compelled to venture into the business in order to take care of his father who is very sick and bedridden.

“I knew what I was doing was wrong but I didn’t have an option. I learnt a trade but after my service year, I didn’t have anyone to help me establish.

“When I returned home, I met my father down with sickness, with no help anywhere. So I approached one of my friends who taught me how to produce these products.

“I have only been in the business for about three months now. I need help to take care of my father’s medical bills,” Mr Emma said.

However, the other two suspects told NAFDAC officials that they were not the producers of the product, but only selling them in the market to make ends meet.

One of them, who gave his name as Okey, aged 26, said he buys the products in the market and in turn, sells them off to buyers to make profit.

“I don’t produce these products; I only sell to buyers in the market. I have been doing the business for a long time because I make profit from it,” he said. 

(NAN)