NAFDAC Impounds 120 Tonnes Of Ponmo
Information reaching Naija News House says that NAFDAC Impounds 120 Tonnes Of Ponmo
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said it has intercepted 120 tons of dangerous animal hides and skins popularly known as Ponmo in Lagos, with seven merchants of the deadly product apprehended.
The director-general of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, said, ‘’The street value of the product currently intercepted is estimated to be around N25.330m only’’.
The DG, in a statement yesterday, warned the general public, particularly consumers of Ponmo against the activities of some unscrupulous businessmen and traders who are selling industrial animal hides as food articles.
She disclosed that the NAFDAC investigation and enforcement officials swiftly carried out intelligence gathering around certain locations where the alleged products were being warehoused and sold.
Adeyeye said the action was in response to several complaints received from the public, pertaining to alleged sale and distribution of imported hides and skins meant for use in leather industries and which had already been processed with industrial chemicals.
NAFDAC Impounds 120 Tonnes Of Ponmo
‘’Monitoring was also extended to some buyers who patronise the sellers and custodians of the warehouse’’, she said, adding that preliminary investigation revealed that some of the hides and skins were imported illegally and sometimes diverted to some merchants of death who re-process the hides and skins and further sell them as consumable Ponmo to the public.
In the light of these discoveries, she said that the Agency recently conducted investigative raids upon some identified locations in Lagos State where market women and men were found clustered for purchase of leftovers from the warehouses.
She disclosed that the products were intercepted at six different locations, stressing that seven suspects who were alleged to be involved in the acts are currently under investigation.
The NAFDAC boss further explained that samples of the products have been sent to the laboratory for testing so as to ascertain the products quality and unwholesomeness, adding that the intervention would help the Agency deal with the interaction and the dangers associated with the consumption of these products.
NAFDAC Impounds 120 Tonnes Of Ponmo
