The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has dismantled a large network of secret warehouses used for storing counterfeit and banned medicines in Lagos State, seizing more than 10 million doses of fake drugs in what officials have described as a major breakthrough.
The enforcement operation, carried out around the Trade Fair–Navy axis, led to the interception of counterfeit medicines valued at over ₦3 billion, including critical emergency drugs and outlawed pharmaceutical products.
Addressing journalists in Lagos, NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement and Chairman of the Federal Task Force on Fake and Substandard Products, Mr Martins Iluyomade, said the raid followed intelligence gathered during a training session held on February 3. Eyes Of Lagos reports,
According to him, suspicious movements around the area prompted operatives to conduct a discreet investigation, which led to the discovery of multiple warehouse buildings disguised as residential houses.
“The structures were built to look like homes, but they were used exclusively for storing fake medicines. The area is largely deserted, which explains how the operators avoided detection for so long,” Iluyomade said.
A sweep of the warehouses uncovered large quantities of counterfeit injectable anti-malarials, antibiotics, sachet drugs, blister packs, and other medicines. Officials also found Analgin, a drug banned in Nigeria for over 15 years.
Iluyomade described the discovery as alarming, noting that many of the seized products were meant for emergency medical treatment.
“What we found should worry every Nigerian. These are not just fake supplements. These are life-saving injections used in critical cases such as cerebral malaria. When fake drugs are administered in such situations, the outcome can be fatal,” he said.
He added that the counterfeit products were so sophisticated that even pharmaceutical manufacturers sometimes struggle to differentiate them from genuine ones.
According to NAFDAC, the confiscated items were evacuated from the site using eight trailers loaded with assorted fake medicines and cosmetics.
“This is a significant victory for public health in Nigeria. These dangerous products will not make it into circulation,” Iluyomade stated.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the operation was linked to an international counterfeit drug syndicate, with collaborators both within and outside Nigeria.
“They clone original products by taking samples of genuine medicines, reproducing them abroad to near perfection, and reintroducing them into our distribution system. This is organised crime on a global scale,” Iluyomade explained.
He warned that Nigeria’s healthcare system is under serious threat from such activities.
“The country is under siege by individuals who prioritise profit over human lives, even if it means killing fellow citizens and damaging reputable pharmaceutical brands,” he said.
Iluyomade also revealed that several pharmaceutical companies had raised concerns about counterfeit versions of their products circulating for months, noting that traffickers often distribute them in small quantities to avoid regulatory attention.
He cautioned Nigerians to be vigilant when purchasing medicines.
“If a drug is unusually cheap, don’t assume you’ve found a bargain. It could cost you your life,” he warned.
Comments
Post a Comment