The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intensified its crackdown on counterfeit drugs, seizing 50 trailer loads of substandard pharmaceuticals and recovering firearms hidden within the Niger Bridge Head drug market in Onitsha, Anambra State.
During the operation, security operatives discovered two rifles, live cartridges, machetes, and other weapons, raising concerns over potential threats against enforcement officials. The agency believes the hidden weapons may have been part of an assassination plot against Dr. Martins Iluyomade, NAFDAC’s Director for the Southeast zone, who regularly oversees debriefings at the location.
Speaking on the development, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to eliminating fake drug cartels, assuring that the ongoing enforcement action is for public safety and not targeted at any individual or group.
“This is a national assignment for the general good. With our security team’s prompt intervention, we recovered dangerous weapons and arrested suspects attempting to break into storage areas where seized drugs were kept,” Adeyeye stated.
NAFDAC also revealed that some sections of the market will reopen soon as the agency shifts focus to the next phase of its operation.
