The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) confiscated over N20 million worth of substandard, falsified, and banned products in an operation in Sokoto. NAFDAC announced via X on Tuesday that its Investigation and Enforcement/Federal Task Force on Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods carried out the raid, targeting key markets including Old Market, Kara Market, and Central Market.

During the operation, four suspects were arrested and seventeen shops were screened. Among the seized illegal products were several cartons of Endocoton Super containing banned Paraquat. The statement read, “Seventeen shops were screened, and several cartons of Endocoton Super containing banned Paraquat were confiscated. Paraquat is a highly toxic herbicide that poses significant health risks and environmental hazards.”

Additionally, the raid led to the seizure of 2,096 cartons of SF MOE Soap and 223 cartons of SF Oxxo Purest Soap. Several unregistered herbal preparations with pornographic pictorials, posing significant public health risks, were also removed. The arrested suspects are under investigation, and the confiscated products will be processed according to regulations for substandard and falsified products.

NAFDAC reaffirmed its ban on Paraquat agrochemicals and vowed to enforce the ban rigorously. “The Agency urges the public to report suspicious activities or products to the nearest NAFDAC office to help combat the distribution of dangerous and illegal products,” the statement added.