NAFDAC Arrests Manager As Fake Asheitu Adams Bitters Herbal Medicine Factory Uncovered
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has arrested a company manager following the discovery of an illegal herbal medicine production facility in Agege, Lagos State, where products allegedly carried a falsified registration number.
The agency disclosed this in a statement published on its official X account on Wednesday, following an investigation into reports of herbal medicines bearing fake NAFDAC registration numbers.
According to the agency, its investigative team conducted surveillance before identifying three variants of Asheitu Adams Bitters bearing registration number A7-1827L.
NAFDAC said verification through its National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control Automated Product Administration and Monitoring System (NAPAMS) portal revealed that the registration number actually belonged to Greentol Cough Syrup.
The discovery confirmed the alleged fraudulent use of the registration number on the herbal products, raising concerns about the authenticity and regulatory status of the medicines.
The agency said the facility’s managing director and chief executive officer was absent when its officials carried out the operation, but the company manager was arrested for further questioning.
NAFDAC urged members of the public to assist its enforcement efforts by providing credible information about suspected illegal manufacturing activities.
The agency provided its call centre numbers, 0800-1-623322 and 0700-1-623322, for public reports. Complaints can also be submitted via reforms@nafdac.gov.ng.
The latest operation comes less than a week after the agency uncovered a suspected counterfeit drinks factory at the Trade Fair Complex in Lagos State, where two individuals were arrested over the alleged production and repackaging of fake alcoholic and energy drinks.
During that operation, NAFDAC reportedly discovered unhygienic production conditions and alleged that suspects used counterfeit labels to rebrand empty bottles of expensive wines before refilling them with adulterated alcoholic beverages.
