The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control on Monday uncovered what it has described as “one of the worst counterfeit medicine operations in recent years,” seizing more than 10 million doses of fake and banned drugs concealed in warehouses across Lagos State.
Speaking to 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 discovery followed intelligence from a training session on February 3 that highlighted suspicious activities around the Trade Fair–Navy area.
“Acting on information from that meeting, our team visited the location and found multiple warehouse structures built like residential houses but used solely for storage. The area is deserted, not somewhere people normally go, which is likely why they operated undetected,” Iluyomade explained.
Officials discovered massive quantities of counterfeit medicines inside the buildings, including injectable anti-malarials, antibiotics, sachet drugs, blister packs, and banned products such as Analgin, which has been prohibited for over 15 years.
“What we discovered should make every Nigerian cry. These were not just fake vitamins. These were life-saving medicines, injections used in emergency cases like cerebral malaria. When fake injections are used in such situations, it becomes a death sentence.
“It is extremely difficult to distinguish the fake from the original. Even product owners sometimes struggle to tell the difference. That is how sophisticated these criminals have become,” he added.
The street value of the seized items exceeds N3 billion, with eight trailers filled with assorted fake medicines and cosmetics removed from the site.
“This is a major breakthrough for Nigeria and Nigerians. These products will not enter circulation,” Iluyomade said.
He described the operation as the work of an international syndicate.
“They clone original products. They take samples of genuine medicines, reproduce them abroad to near perfection, and push them back into our distribution chain. This is organised crime involving collaborators both inside and outside Nigeria,” he said.
Warning of the dangers posed to the nation’s healthcare system, the NAFDAC official said, “The country is under siege by people who want to make money at all costs, even if it means killing fellow citizens and destroying reputable brands.”
Iluyomade also revealed that some manufacturers had reported seeing fake versions of their products in the market for over six months, but criminals often distribute them in small quantities to evade detection.
“If a drug is unusually cheap, don’t think you’ve found a bargain. It could cost you your life,” he cautioned.
