Yesterday, a wholesale pharmaceutical store in Wuse 2, in the Wuse District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), saw the confiscation of over N30 million worth of Schedule 1 Narcotic drugs and other unregistered drugs by the enforcement team of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). In the Lokogoma District, the squad also searched another store owned by the same person.Two employees of the pharmacy were detained during the enforcement activity, which was carried out alongside heavily armed Nigerian police officers.
Controlled substances or other compounds with a high potential for abuse are classified as schedule 1 drugs.
The squad also conducted a raid at a well-known Dei-Dei Market in the FCT's outskirts, where they confiscated various illegal substances and dangerous herbal goods and detained three drug vendors.
The Deputy Director, Investigation and Enforcement, Northern Zone, Pharm Andrew Tamanuwa, who is in charge of the NAFDAC enforcement team, informed the media that the agency has received reliable information on Schedule 1 narcotics being sold at the pharmacy.
According to the Nigerian Constitution, he continued, only the Federal Government is authorized to import Schedule 1 narcotics, such as morphine, codeine, and meperidine; all other medical facilities are required to purchase their Schedule 1 narcotics for their patients from the Federal Medical Schools, which are under the Federal Ministry of Health.