The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC), has raised the alarm on the illegal importation, sales and distribution of crusader soaps containing mercury in Nigeria.
The director general of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, made this known weekend in a press briefing in Abuja.
She said the Investigation and Enforcement (I&E) Directorate of NAFDAC discovered a syndicate that specialises in importing banned Crusader soaps containing Mercury.
“The syndicate uses forged customs documents to import the product into the country.
Professor Adeyeye stated further that investigation through the ports show that the banned Crusader soap was imported seven times in 2021 alone and each consignment is not less than 3 containers with four thousand, five hundred cartons of the soap.
“These products have found their way into various supermarkets and cosmetics shops with unsuspecting members of the public patronising them.
Acting on intelligence, I&E Directorate in August 2023 busted a warehouse in trade fair market, which was filled with banned imported soaps.
She added that three trailer-load of imported crusader medicated soap and Mekako soap totaling 4,000 cartons by 12 packs by 12 tablet soap were evacuated from the warehouse, while some suspects were arrested in connection with the case.
“The street value of the evacuated products is approximately one billion naira,” she said.
