The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced the arrest of Lazarus Onwukwe, a suspected major distributor of expired drugs, following a five-month manhunt.
The suspect was apprehended on Thursday, July 24, at his residence in Umuocheala, Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area of Abia State.
NAFDAC’s Deputy Director of Investigation and Enforcement for the South-East and South-South, Omoyeni Babatunji, confirmed the arrest to journalists. According to Babatunji, Onwukwe had been evading authorities since February 11, when a joint operation involving NAFDAC, the Nigerian Army, police, and the Department of State Services (DSS) raided his property.
During the initial raid, the agency uncovered a mini drug factory where expired products were allegedly repackaged, revalidated, and rebranded for resale to unsuspecting consumers. NAFDAC described the facility as the largest of its kind in the South-East region.
Babatunji disclosed that Onwukwe was caught while attempting to leave his residence in a Sienna vehicle loaded with drugs, having previously avoided detection.
The recovered drugs will undergo laboratory testing and be presented as evidence in court. The director also noted that the building, which was sealed during the February operation, had been rented out to new tenants, though no drugs were found during Thursday’s search.
However, Onwukwe denied the allegations, insisting that he only dealt in genuine imported pharmaceuticals and was unaware of the building’s sealing. He claimed to have been ill for three months and stated that his wife had rented out the premises in his absence.
NAFDAC reaffirmed its commitment to cracking down on counterfeit and expired drug syndicates, warning that offenders would face the full wrath of the law. The agency urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious pharmaceutical activities.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
