NSCDC hands over 90,000 litres of seized ethanol to NAFDAC
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has handed over 90,000 litres of suspected illegally sourced ethanol, two tanker trucks and six suspects to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further investigation and regulatory action.
The handover took place on Thursday in Uyo after the NSCDC concluded its preliminary investigation into the seizure.
*NSCDC hands over 90,000 litres of seized ethanol to NAFDAC
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has handed over 90,000 litres of suspected illegally sourced ethanol, two tanker trucks and six suspects to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further investigation and regulatory action.
The handover took place on Thursday in Uyo after the NSCDC concluded its preliminary investigation into the seizure.
Speaking during the handover, the Akwa Ibom State Commandant of the NSCDC, Mrs Geraldine Abetianbe, said the two tanker trucks were intercepted in separate intelligence-led operations on 23 and 27 June along Ikot Umo Essien in Essien Udim Local Government Area.
She said operatives acted on credible intelligence to intercept the trucks, which were suspected of transporting ethanol sourced illegally.
According to Abetianbe, preliminary investigations confirmed that the tankers contained ethanol, a product regulated by NAFDAC.
She explained that the corps subsequently contacted NAFDAC to verify the licence and accompanying documents presented by the suspects.
“By law and regulatory practice, ethanol and related products fall under the regulatory jurisdiction of NAFDAC.
“Consequently, we wrote to NAFDAC to authenticate the licence and documents presented by the suspects.
“The agency confirmed the authenticity of the licence and requested that the product, the suspects and the vehicles used for conveying the ethanol be handed over for further regulatory investigation,” she said.
Abetianbe added that the handover was in line with the provisions of the NAFDAC Act and other relevant laws, enabling the agency to conduct a comprehensive regulatory investigation and take any necessary enforcement action.
Receiving the exhibits on behalf of NAFDAC, the agency’s Akwa Ibom State Coordinator, Mr John Naeche, commended the NSCDC for its professionalism and commitment to inter-agency collaboration.
He said the seized ethanol would undergo laboratory analysis to determine its quality and composition, and to assess whether it had been contaminated, noting that ethanol is commonly used in the manufacture of a wide range of products.
“On behalf of the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, I sincerely appreciate the officers and men of the NSCDC for their efforts.
“This is what effective collaboration is all about. We work together to ensure that Nigerians are protected,” Naeche said.
He assured that the outcome of NAFDAC’s investigation and laboratory analysis would be communicated to the NSCDC upon completion.
