Drug Hawkers Are Merchants Of Death, Will Be Prosecuted When Caught – NAFDAC

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC) and Control has warned against patronising drug hawkers as most of their drugs are counterfeit, substandard, and expired.

The Director General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye said this on Tuesday (today) at the official flag-off of the agency’s media sensitisation workshop on the dangers of drug hawking and ripening of fruits with calcium carbides.

She said the menace of drug hawking poses a serious challenge to the healthcare delivery system in the country and it underscores the agency’s resolute determination to eradicate the illicit trade

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Prof. Adeyeye said, “Many drug hawkers are knowingly or unknowingly merchants of death who expose essential and life-saving medicines to the vagaries of inclement weather, which degrade the active ingredients of the medicine and turn them to poisons, thus endangering human lives.

“Most of the drugs sold by the illiterate and semi-illiterate drug hawkers are counterfeit, substandard or expired, and therefore, do not meet the quality, safety and efficacy requirement of regulated medicines.

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“Prescription drugs are also sold by the itinerant drug hawkers who also hold consultation, recommend and prescribe medicines to their gullible patients.”

According to her, drug hawkers are also the major distributors and suppliers of narcotic medicines to criminal networks such as armed bandits, insurgents, kidnappers and armed robbers.

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Photo Credit: Getty