The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, launched a nationwide crackdown on all producers and distributors of herbal preparations laced with high concentrations of tobacco, cocaine, and cannabis over the weekend, alarmed by the alarming spread of illicit herbal intoxicants in Nigeria.
According to the agency’s findings, Nigerians of all sexes and ages, particularly craftspeople, drivers, okada riders, etc., are increasingly using substances that are heavily mixed with tobacco and occasionally cannabis.
The damage to the kidney and liver cannot be overstated, according to Adeyeye, who said that when these substances are misused, they can be damaging to several body organs, including the brain, kidneys, and liver.
“Although consumers take these the herbal preparation to get intoxicated, Adeyeye said, “These substances can cause irrational thinking, altered state of mind, which if taken by a driver can lead to a road traffic accident with the attendant fatality consequences, or can lead to criminal behaviors such as rape, kidnapping, and murder.
She said: “In our recent operations, we impounded the following dangerous herbal aphrodisiac at some Islamic herbal medicine shops in Zaria, Kaduna State: Gagare Man Power, Minister For Man Power, lmenjou For Lazy Men in Bed, Nisan Zango Karfin Maza, Shagalin Ka Man Power, Dakan Jia Man Power enhancement, Wuff Male Sexual Performance and Afafata For Sexual Drive, etc.”
According to Adeyeye, one of the unlawful factories producing such products has so far been closed down, and the proprietor has been taken into custody. The discovery that Cannon Extra (Paracetamol 500mg+Caffeine 30mg), Hyergra 200 (Sildenafil Citrate tablet), and Amafranil pills (Clomipramine tablet 25mg) were being used in the production area is noteworthy.
According to her, the proprietor acknowledged that he makes the manpower preparation by dissolving the Hyergra 200, Cannon Extra, and Amafranil in a drum and combining the substance with boiled kanafari, garlic, dundu, marke, and hankufa as well as sweeteners and sodium benzoate. Yet the preparation’s label stated that it was made entirely of herbs, she complained.
She claims that NAFDAC sprang into action and conducted an investigation and enforcement action. “In order to hold offenders accountable and reduce the use of the drug, we have started a statewide crackdown on all illicit producers and dealers of these herbal medicines.
