By Chioma Obinna

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has smashed syndicates specialised in faking and distribution of Viagra and Kasapreko Alomo Bitters, two popular performance enhancing drugs registered in the Nigerian market.

Announcing the arrest in Lagos last week, the Director General of NAFDAC, Dr Paul Orhii disclosed that the Agency has confiscated the dangerous drug products, with an estimated street value running into several millions loaded in six containers.

The fake Viagra, the Director General noted, was labelled as Heragra and Ziagra, hinting that the counterfeiters who planned to flood the Nigerian market with the dangerous products also brought in unapproved dosage of Diclofenac, Tramadol and Tramadol.

“The unregistered Heragra and Ziagra brands of sildenafil citrate (Viagra) tablets are usually registered in 25 mg, 50mg and 100mg but the intercepted unregistered Heragra and Ziagra came in strength of 120mg.

“These products are known drugs of misuse and abuse which can result in very serious health problems such as increased blood pressure, stroke, and ulceration of the gastro-intestinal tract, tolerance and dependence. Also, the implications of overdose of these drugs are stroke, liver diseases, kidney disease swelling of the face, swelling of the tongue and skin diseases.”

He explained that the sildenafil citrate tablet is a prescription only medication (POM) for managing erectile dysfunction. Tramadol is also a POM for managing severe pain and under strict control in Nigeria.

“These products have not been tested and certified by NAFDAC. Therefore, their quality and safety are not guaranteed, but “for the timely intervention of NAFDAC, it would have found its way into circulation,” he added.

Orhii also explained that the consumption of the drugs would have resulted in chest pain, uncomfortable penile dysfunction, heart attack and even death.

The Agency also arrested a fake manufacturer of Kasapreko Alomo Bitters amongst other popular alcoholic beverages.

Orhii said the alleged counterfeiter, one Mr Akintunde Smith of Akanni Street, Teddy Village, Lagos, was arrested manufacturing the fake bitters in an unapproved and illegal production factory.

The enforcement team recovered 314 cartoons of the fake products as well as empty bottles of Alomo bitters, packaging materials for Mcdowell Whiskey, and Johnnie Walker (Red Label).

Others arrested include Mr. Kenneth Kelechi Nnadi of D.C Akason Investment Ltd., for forgery of NAFDAC Payment Advice to clear 14 40ft containers. Kelechi confessed to the forgery.