Nearly 500 kg of fake drugs seized in Ebolowa

Some 500 kg of street drugs were seized in Ebolowa last week, during an operation carried out by forces of law and order under the instruction of the prefect of Mvila.

“The operation is both educational and repressive. It is sponsored and will continue until the total eradication of the phenomenon of street drugs in Ebolowa,” said Victor Marcell Mendel Ngangue, the prefect of Mvila.

This large amount of drugs composed of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, anti-malaria, alcohols, sticky and other bands is estimated at about 25 million CFA francs, according to officials of the departmental delegation of trade in Mvila. The fake drugs were destroyed with fire on the site of treatment of garbage belonging to the Hysacam society, under the gaze of Elvis Akondji, sub-prefect of Ebolowa I. 20 Shops which sell the fake drugs have been closed down.

During this operation, medicine venders who give injections and infusions to patients in unsanitary places, were taken by surprise. Mama Zaman Bernadette, a client who came to buy drugs, did not know where to go to. "My child is seriously ill and I can't go to the pharmacy with 400 F CFA while here at my friends, I could treat my child with this money. We are accustomed to buying these products and it treats us," she said.

Prefect Victor Marcel Mendel Ngangue stood by his decision to seize the fake drugs. “They were sold in the streets in the light and view of everyone in Ebolowa. It is now up to us to whistle the end of it and to tell our brothers who are working in this sector that they are doing the wrong business. They should invest elsewhere rather than sell the remedies in the street.” Ngangue advised the populations to buy their medicines in health facilities or pharmacies.