NAFDAC arrests Chinese, syndicate for alleged smuggling of controlled substances

The National Agency For Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has arrested the Managing Director of Six Six Manufacturing Global Services Ltd, Mr. Zhao Shou Chum, a Chinese, and his clearing agent, Mr. Christian Ohia of Actus Fidel Nigeria Ltd for allegedly smuggling containers of controlled substances, Urea Formaldehyde Resin powder out of the seaports.

The Acting Director-General of the agency, Mrs. Yetunde Oni, who disclosed during a media briefing in Lagos yesterday, said those arrested have given investigators useful information and are assisting NAFDAC to unravel their supply chain.

The NAFDAC boss, who reiterated her administration’s resolve to work assiduously as a team to ensure more efficient service delivery in safeguarding the health of the nation, said vigilant NAFDAC operatives at the seaport intercepted and wrote a stop/seizure notice on the 2 x 20ft containers of Urea Formaldehyde Resin purported to be sodium sulphate, imported by Six Six Manufacturing Global Services Ltd without the requisite NAFDAC Chemical Import Permit for controlled substances.

She said the company through its syndicate smuggled the product to an unknown location outside Lagos. “The effective intelligence work of the combined efforts of NAFDAC officers at the Ports Inspection Directorate as well as Investigation & Enforcement Directorate, resulted in the discovery of the company’s warehouse located at Omu-Ijebu, in Ogun State, where the containers were kept.”

According to her, apart from the use of urea compounds as fertilizers, adhesives, and gloss in woods; its other uses may have grave security implication for the nation, hence the Federal Government strictly controls its importation and use.