NAFDAC Busts Major Counterfeit Drug Ring, Seizes 10m Fake Malaria Doses in Lagos

By Afolabi Nelson

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has seized over 10 million doses of counterfeit malaria medicines and cosmetic products valued at about ₦3 billion at the Trade Fair Market in Lagos.

The Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Dr. Martin Iluyomade, disclosed this on Tuesday during a media briefing in Apapa. He said the operation followed credible intelligence received on February 3.

Iluyomade, who also chairs the Federal Task Force on Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods, said the haul included fake anti-malaria drugs and injections for cerebral malaria, antibiotics, Postinor, and Analgin, an analgesic banned in Nigeria for nearly 15 years.

According to him, eight truckloads of counterfeit drugs and cosmetics were evacuated from a three-storey building disguised as a spare parts warehouse. Four suspects were arrested, while investigations are ongoing.

He described the operation as one of NAFDAC’s major breakthroughs, warning that counterfeiters now hide drugs in unconventional locations and closely clone original brands, making detection difficult even for authorised manufacturers.

Iluyomade said the intercepted products posed a serious public health risk and could have caused widespread harm if they had entered the market.

He reaffirmed NAFDAC’s commitment under the leadership of Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye to eliminate fake and unwholesome products, urging drug distributors to buy only from NAFDAC-accredited sources and calling on the public to report suspicious activities nationwide.