By Sandra Ugwu 

LAGOS - The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has dismantled a massive counterfeit drug network in Lagos, uncovering hidden warehouses stocked with fake and banned medicines estimated at over ₦3 billion.

Addressing journalists on Monday, the agency’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement and Chairman of the Federal Task Force on Fake and Substandard Products, Mr Martins Iluyomade, disclosed that more than 10 million doses of counterfeit medicines were recovered during the operation.

Iluyomade explained that the breakthrough followed intelligence obtained from a training session held on February 3, which flagged suspicious movements around the Trade Fair–Navy axis of the state.

“Based on the intelligence, our officers visited the area and discovered multiple warehouse facilities designed to look like residential buildings but used exclusively for storing fake drugs. The isolated nature of the location allowed the operators to function unnoticed,” he said.

The seized items included large quantities of counterfeit injectable anti-malarials, antibiotics, sachet medications, blister packs, and banned drugs such as Analgin, outlawed in Nigeria for more than 15 years.

According to Iluyomade, the discovery highlights a grave threat to public health.

“These were critical, life-saving medicines used in emergency care. Administering fake injections in cases such as cerebral malaria can directly lead to death,” he warned.

He added that the counterfeit drugs were produced with such precision that even brand owners often find it difficult to differentiate them from genuine products.

“The criminals clone original medicines, manufacture near-perfect copies abroad, and reintroduce them into Nigeria through established distribution channels. This is organised, transnational crime,” he said.

NAFDAC confirmed that eight trailer loads of fake medicines and cosmetic products were removed from the warehouses, stressing that none of the seized items would be allowed into circulation.

“This operation represents a significant victory in the fight against fake drugs. These products have been intercepted and will be destroyed,” Iluyomade said.

He further warned that counterfeit drug syndicates are deliberately undermining Nigeria’s healthcare system in pursuit of profit, with little regard for human life.

“Nigeria is under attack by criminals who prioritise money over lives and the integrity of legitimate pharmaceutical brands,” he stated.

Iluyomade noted that some manufacturers had reported the presence of fake versions of their products in the market for several months, explaining that the syndicates often release the drugs in small quantities to evade detection.

He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, warning that unusually cheap medicines may be deadly.
“If a drug is selling far below its normal price, think twice. It could cost you your life,” he cautioned.