The police in Lagos on Tuesday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, four men allegedly caught operating an illegal drug factory. The suspects are Emeka Madu, 47; Eze Young, 26; Chijoke Umunna, 19; and Kingsley Obilor, 22, They were arrested by the police Intelligence Response Team on November 23, 2018.
Force spokesperson, Jimoh Moshood, said that operatives received credible intelligence and acted on it to uncover the fake factory, where substantial production, packaging and distribution of suspected fake drugs to different parts of the country were being carried out. The police said they recovered cartons of different fake drugs; large quantities of unprocessed chemical substances used for manufacturing drugs; machines for processing, manufacturing and packaging of these drugs; as well as forged pharmaceutical papers. The suspects were arraigned on three counts of conspiracy, unlawful manufacturing of drugs and operation of an illegal drug factory.
Police prosecutor, Peter Nwangwu, told the court that the accused persons committed the offences on November 13, 2018, around 9am at No. 2 Okunneye Street, in the Ikotun-Egbe area of Lagos. “Madu, Young, Umunna and Obilor unlawfully manufactured pharmaceutical drugs suspected to be fake paracetamol tablets and septrin tablets for consumption by unsuspecting members of the public,” Mr Nwangwu said.Nwangwu alleged that Mr Madu, sometime in 2014, unlawfully acquired two tablet-making machines, two blister machines and other types of equipment for the purpose of operating an illegal drug factory without a licence or any formal training.
The prosecutor said the offences contravened the provisions of sections 160 (1), (a), (b), 252 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. The suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges. Magistrate Yewande Aje-Afunwa adjourned the case till February 28 for mention.
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