The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Abuja has apprehended five individuals for selling counterfeit cosmetics worth N35 million.
The arrests took place on Wednesday during a crackdown in the Garki and Wuse areas aimed at stemming the proliferation of substandard goods.
Following the enforcement operation, Mr Embugushiki-Musa Godiya, Head of Investigation and Enforcement for the Federal Taskforce at NAFDAC, spoke to reporters and confirmed that the detained individuals would undergo a thorough investigation.
He affirmed NAFDAC’s commitment to eradicating fake cosmetics and other counterfeit products from the market.
Godiya disclosed that NAFDAC had been investigating counterfeit cosmetics based on intelligence reports. He noted that some of these products had been illegally imported into the country despite border security measures.
He said, “NAFDAC is present at all the country’s ports of entry, but with the nature of our borders, these smugglers will always find ways to beat the system the government has put in place.
“That is why if they escape from the port or borders, we go to the market and all the places, gather intelligence reports, go after them, and confiscate the product for possible prosecution,” Godiya added, saying that the food and drug agency intends to continue its investigation to ascertain the extent of the suspects’ involvement.
He said following the investigation, regulatory actions, likely including prosecution, will be taken against the suspects.
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