The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has made significant strides in apprehending a syndicate involved in the illicit importation of banned crusader soaps containing mercury into Nigeria.
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of NAFDAC, revealed this development during a press briefing in Lagos.
Adeyeye disclosed that the syndicate employed counterfeit customs documents to smuggle these hazardous products into the country.
Notably, NAFDAC had banned the importation of crusader soaps years ago due to their mercury content, a substance known for its adverse health effects.
“In the course of its regulatory activities, the investigation and enforcement (I&E) Directorate of NAFDAC has discovered a syndicate that specializes in importing banned crusader soaps containing mercury. The syndicate used forged customs documents to import the product into the country, and further investigation through the ports show that the banned crusader soap was imported seven times in 2021 alone. Each consignment is not less than three containers with 4,500 cartons of the soap,” explained Adeyeye.
These banned products had infiltrated various supermarkets and cosmetic shops, deceiving unsuspecting consumers. Acting on intelligence, NAFDAC’s investigation and enforcement team busted a warehouse in Trade Fair Market in August 2023, which was stocked with these illegal imported soaps.
In this operation, they seized three trailer-loads of crusader medicated soap and mekako soap, totaling 4,000 cartons, each containing 12 packs by 12 tablet soaps, with an estimated street value of approximately one billion Naira.
Adeyeye pointed out that this successful operation followed three failed attempts, as the cartel continuously shifted the consignment of soaps to different locations in Lagos using informants to evade detection.
The prime suspect, Chief Peter Obih, claimed during interrogation to have acquired the product’s franchise from a company and presented an expired NAFDAC certificate issued for local manufacturing after the initial ban.
However, NAFDAC’s investigation revealed that not a single bar of the soap had been manufactured in Nigeria since the supposed registration in 2013.
Laboratory analysis of the soap samples confirmed the presence of heavy metals, specifically mercury.
The product, falsely labeled as “Made in England,” is actually sourced from India. This deception constitutes a blatant violation of NAFDAC regulations.
Adeyeye emphasized the global concern over mercury’s presence in cosmetics due to its documented health hazards for both humans and the environment. The arrested suspects will face legal action, and a manhunt is underway to apprehend other members of the syndicate who are currently evading capture.
The Director-General advised Nigerians to refrain from purchasing imported soaps, detergents, and cosmetics containing mercury and to promptly report any violations to the nearest NAFDAC office.