Irked by the alarming circulation of illicit herbal intoxicants in Nigeria, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, weekend commenced a nationwide clampdown on all manufacturers and distributors of herbal preparations laced with high concentrations of tobacco, cocaine and cannabis.
Findings by the agency showed a dangerous trend in the use of such substances laced with a high concentration of tobacco and sometimes cannabis among Nigerians of all genders, and age groups, particularly, artisans, drivers, okada riders etc.
Briefing journalists on the illicit use of herbal intoxicant popularly known as Kurkura Gargle, Herbal Aphrodisiac, and Alcoholic Bitters in the country, the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye said Kurkura and other herbal preparations including aphrodisiac that’s laced with cannabis, Japata alcoholic bitters laced with marijuana and cannabis combined have been linked to damaging health consequences and untimely death.
Adeyeye explained that these substances are abused they can be harmful to body organs such as the brain, kidney and liver and the damage to the kidney and liver cannot be overemphasised.
So far one of the illegal factories involved in the production of such unauthorised products has been shut down and the owner was arrested, Adeyeye said. Worthy of note is the discovery of the usage of Hyergra 200 (Sildenafil Citrate tablet), Amafranil tablets (Clomipramine tablet 25mg) and Cannon Extra (Paracetamol 500mg+Caffeine 30mg) in the production room.
She disclosed that the owner admitted that he dissolves the Hyergra 200, Cannon Extra and the Amafranil in a drum and mixes the content with boiled kanafari, garlic, dundu, marke, hankufa, sweeteners and sodium benzoate to make the manpower preparation. “Yet the label on the preparation read 100 per cent herbal preparations,” she lamented.
According to her, NAFDAC swung into action and carried out intelligence and enforcement action. “We have commenced a nationwide crackdown of all illegal manufacturers and distributors of these herbal preparations with a view to bringing perpetrators to book and minimise the usage of the substance.
