𝐍𝐀𝐅𝐃𝐀𝐂 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐬, 𝐬𝐞𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐬 ₦𝟏.𝟐 B𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐬

Operatives of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control have busted a fake drug network operating in a warehouse situated in Ilasa-Oshodi area of Lagos State.

A statement posted on the official X handle of the agency on Friday stated that operatives of the agency during the raid intercepted 277 cartons of counterfeit and unregistered Malamal Forte malaria drugs valued at over N1.2 billion in the warehouse.

According to the Agency, the drugs, which were concealed in cartons labelled as Diclofenac Potassium 50mg, were illegally imported from Shanxi Tianyuan Pharmaceuticals Group in China, and were falsely declared as spare parts in the shipping container.

The statement reads, “NAFDAC has intercepted 277 cartons of counterfeit and unregistered Malamal Forte malaria drugs, valued at over ₦1.2 billion,  in a warehouse located in the Ilasa-Oshodi area of Lagos State.

“The fake drugs, which were concealed in cartons labelled as Diclofenac Potassium 50mg, were illegally imported from Shanxi Tianyuan Pharmaceuticals Group in China. They were falsely declared as spare parts in the shipping container.”

NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, described the interception as part of a broader crackdown.

“This seizure is part of NAFDAC’s sustained nationwide operation to protect public health and ensure only safe, quality medicines are available to Nigerians,” she said.

She explained that the agency had intensified monitoring at ports and warehouses across the country, working with other security agencies to stop smugglers from flooding the market with dangerous products.

Prof. Adeyeye stressed that government backing had strengthened the agency’s fight against counterfeiters.

“NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment, with the full support of the Presidency and Federal Ministry of Health, to eliminating counterfeit and substandard medicines from Nigeria,” the statement added.

The agency noted that the raid reinforced its warning to importers and distributors that it would not relent in its efforts to rid the market of harmful drugs capable of endangering lives.