US government arrested two Nigerian pharmacists over $9.6m illegal drugs distribution

An indictment was unsealed today charging three pharmacists, one doctor and two other individuals with conspiracy to illegally distribute prescription drugs, U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider announced today.

Charged in the indictment are: Nigerian pharmacists Enitan Sodiya-Ogundipe, 42, and Abiodun Fabode, 56, Pharmacist Amir Rafi, 49, Dr. Vasan Deshikachar, 50, Niesheia Tibu, 44, and Andrei Tibu, 30.

The indictment alleges that from January 2015 through March 2018, these pharmacists and doctor conspired with the other defendants to issue and dispense a large number of prescription opioids for supposed patients, who did not have a legitimate medical need for the drugs.

Deshikachar primarily prescribed oxycodone and oxymorphone, two of the most addictive opioids that have high street value. The Tibus would take the supposed patients to Precare Pharmacy, Global Health Pharmacy and Friendz Pharmacy, where Sodiya-Ogundipe, Rafi and Fabode would dispense the drugs.

The Tibus then obtained the drugs and sold them on the street. According to the indictment, the pharmacies dispensed more than 344,737 dosage units of Schedule II opioid prescriptions during the course of the conspiracy. These controlled substances had a conservative street value in excess of $9,600,000.

“In this case, three pharmacists and one doctor allegedly conspired to distribute nearly $10 million worth of opioids into the community, potentially spreading addiction and causing untold damage to Michigan families.

Diversion of prescription pills to the street market is a direct cause of the current opioid epidemic facing our country,” U.S. Attorney Schneider said.