The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intensified its crackdown on counterfeit drug syndicates, uncovering massive illicit medicine depots and seizing truckloads of fake pharmaceuticals across major markets in Idumota, Onitsha, and Aba.
NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, declared “enough is enough” as operatives raided illegal drug warehouses over the weekend, confiscating a staggering number of expired and falsified medicines repackaged for unsuspecting consumers.
In Aba, authorities dismantled an illegal drug operation in Umumeje village, Osisioma Ngwa area, where expired medications, including potassium chloride, allergy treatments, immune boosters, and cholesterol drugs, were being rebranded for resale.
Machines used to alter expiry dates were also seized. A key suspect remains at large despite multiple arrests during the operation.
At 269 Faulks Road, Aba, another depot was discovered, revealing large-scale counterfeit drug repackaging. Intelligence gathered before the raid exposed fraudulent activities threatening public health.
Meanwhile, in Onitsha’s Ogbo-Ogwu Bridge Head Market, NAFDAC intercepted 14 truckloads of falsified drugs worth billions of naira. Many of these products bore fake NAFDAC approvals, detected through advanced scanning equipment.
The Southeast Zone Director of NAFDAC, Mr. Martins Iluyomade, confirmed that the seized items included banned, expired, and defective medicines.
In Lagos’ Open Drug Market, Idumota, the agency screened and sealed over 3,000 shops in its first week of enforcement. Among the confiscated items were vaccines stored in unsanitary conditions, banned Analgin injections, diverted free HIV and retroviral drugs, and unregistered pharmaceuticals. Authorities also discovered hidden warehouses stocked with Codeine cough syrup and high-dose Tramadol.
Prof. Adeyeye reaffirmed NAFDAC’s commitment to eliminating counterfeit drugs from Nigerian markets, stating that the agency will continue its aggressive enforcement to safeguard public health.
“This operation targets the three major drug distribution hubs—Idumota, Onitsha, and Aba—ensuring that Nigerians no longer fall victim to deadly substandard medications,” she said.
The crackdown marks a significant step in Nigeria’s fight against counterfeit drugs, a major public health concern endangering millions.
