…NAFDAC seized more than 10 million doses of fake and prohibited medicines concealed in warehouses across Lagos State.
LAGOS, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) yesterday exposed what it called one of the most extensive counterfeit drug networks in recent times, seizing more than 10 million doses of fake and prohibited medicines concealed in warehouses across Lagos State.
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 NAFDAC operation was triggered by intelligence gathered during a training session on February 3, which highlighted suspicious activities around the Trade Fair–Navy axis.
He explained that NAFDAC operatives, acting on the tip-off, raided the area and uncovered several warehouse-like structures designed to look like residential buildings but used exclusively for storage. According to him, the deserted nature of the location helped the NAFDAC evade detection for a long time.
A search of the premises revealed huge stocks of counterfeit medicines, including injectable anti-malarials, antibiotics, sachet drugs, blister packs, as well as banned substances such as Analgin, which has been outlawed for more than 15 years.
Describing the discovery as heartbreaking, Iluyomade said the seized items were not harmless supplements but critical, life-saving drugs, especially injections used in emergency cases like cerebral malaria. He warned that administering fake injections in such situations often results in death.
He noted that the counterfeit products were so well-made that even brand owners sometimes struggle to differentiate them from genuine ones, underscoring the sophistication of the criminal network.
Iluyomade disclosed that the street value of the seized items exceeds N3 billion, with eight truckloads of assorted fake medicines and cosmetics removed from the warehouses. He assured Nigerians that the confiscated products would not be allowed into the market, describing the raid as a significant breakthrough.
According to him, investigations point to an international syndicate behind the operation, involving collaborators within and outside Nigeria. He said the criminals replicate original products almost perfectly by copying genuine samples abroad before reintroducing them into local supply chains.
Warning that counterfeiters pose a serious threat to the nation’s health system, Iluyomade said greed-driven criminals are willing to endanger lives and damage trusted brands for profit. He added that some manufacturers have been reporting the presence of fake versions of their products for months, but the syndicates often distribute in small batches to avoid attracting attention.
He cautioned Nigerians to be wary of unusually cheap drugs, stressing that what appears to be a bargain could ultimately be fatal.
