NAFDAC shuts factories, impounds truckloads of deadly ‘manpower’, alcoholic bitters in Lagos, Zaria

The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, on Friday disclosed that the agency had impounded truckloads of unregistered and deadly products, including intoxicants, alcoholic bitters, and sex-enhancers.

Noting that the unwholesome products were laced with psychoactive substances like tobacco, marijuana, cannabis, etc., she stated that arrests had been made on the owners of the products and their factories shut down in the South West (Lagos) and North (Zaria).

Further disclosing that the products have the capacity to destroy the function of the brain, kidney and liver, and eventually cause death, she stated that three suspects (although they have been granted bail) were arrested in connection with the production and sales of the deadly drinks, with their factories shut down.

She, therefore, advised consumers of NAFDAC regulated products to be watchful of drug, food and other regulated products they purchase and should not hesitate to report any suspicious activities within their environment to the nearest NAFDAC office.

Speaking during a briefing at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja, Prof. Adeyeye, said: “Recently the agency has received a series of reports on the use of an herbal preparation popularly known as ‘Kurkura’ particularly in the South West and Northern axis of the country. The agency swung into action and carried out intelligence and enforcement action. We have commenced a nationwide crackdown of all illegal manufacturers and distributors of these herbal preparations with a view to bringing perpetrators to book and minimise the usage of the substance.

“The ‘Kurkura’ herbal preparations discovered in circulation included: Five Minutes Power Herbs Medicine, Haonu Laha Herbal Mixture, Gamzaki Tradomedical Herbal Ventures, Barakallahu Multipurpose Herbal Mixture, Sabon Karfi Herbal Mixture. Among the above, only Haonu Laha Herbal Mixture is registered, nonetheless it is laced with unapproved substances that are injurious to the body.

“In our recent operation, we impounded the following dangerous herbal aphrodisiac at some Islamic herbal medicines shops in Zaria, Kaduna State: Gagare Man Power, Minister For Man Power, Almenjou For Lazy Men in Bed, Nisan Zango Karfin Maza, Shagalin Ka Man Power, Dakan Jia Man Power enhancement, Wuff Male Sexual Performance, Afafata For Sexual Drive etc.

“Worthy of note is the discovery of the usage of Hyergra 200 (Sildenafil Citrate tablet), Amafranil tablets (Clomipramine tablet 25mg) and Cannon Extra (Paracetamol 500mg+Caffeine 30mg) in the production room. The owner admitted that he dissolves the Hyergra 200, Cannon Extra and the Amafranil in a drum and mixes the content with boiled Kanafari, Garlic, Dundu, Marke, Hankufa, Sweetener and Sodium Benzoate to make up the Man Power preparation. Yet the label on the preparation read 100 percent herbal.

“The effect of such preparation on people with heart challenges can only be imagined. The makers of these products were arrested and later granted bail. Investigation is ongoing.”

She added: “An alcoholic bitters product that is of grave concern is Japata alcoholic bitters which was duly registered by NAFDAC but laced with marijuana or cannabis compared to the registered product that had only ethanol. Through intelligence, NAFDAC was able to shut down the company.

“This product, when tested in the laboratory, caused the death of the mice within five minutes. The alcoholic content was doubled compared with the registered product.  The retained samples, kept at the point of registration, did not cause any injury to the animals.

“The product laced with cannabis was said to cause altered state of mind and psychological problems to the user.  The owner of the company is on the run and the matter has been shared with NDLEA.”