100 truckloads of fake drugs seized in major NAFDAC operation targeting key markets.
Nigeria, EPICSTORIAN — The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) carried out the seizures, preventing potentially harmful substances from reaching the public.
Sayo Akintola, NAFDAC’s Resident Media Consultant, confirmed that intelligence reports had identified massive quantities of falsified pharmaceuticals, leading to the coordinated raids. The estimated street value of the confiscated drugs exceeds ₦1 trillion.
Fake Drugs Linked to National Security Threats
The agency’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, warned about the risks posed by the intercepted drugs, highlighting their potential to destabilize the country.
“What we have found could ruin a nation. What we have found could destabilize a government. What we have found could reduce the quality of life for millions of Nigerians,” she said.
Among the confiscated items were counterfeit treatments for hypertension and diabetes, many of which had expired, posing severe health risks.
Large quantities of narcotics were also found, raising concerns about their role in fueling crime and insecurity.
Violent Resistance During NAFDAC Raids
Previous operations in these drug hubs had met resistance, with law enforcement personnel facing attacks from drug dealers. Akintola recounted an incident where officers narrowly escaped death during an attempted seizure in Onitsha.
“We had intelligence three or four years ago that something was happening there. When we arrived with our police, our staff and officers barely escaped death,” Adeyeye recalled.
An earlier intelligence-gathering effort in Onitsha led to a violent attack on two officials of the anti-counterfiet unit, leaving them seriously injured.
“They were left bleeding. This is the hazard we face every time in NAFDAC,” she stated.
Impact on Public Health and the Pharmaceutical Industry
Fake and substandard drugs not only endanger lives but also undermine the pharmaceutical industry. Counterfeit medicines make it difficult for legitimate manufacturers to compete, affecting the availability of safe and effective treatments.
“NAFDAC is doing this first for public health, secondly to foster trade, and thirdly to reduce the scourge on our country,” Adeyeye said.
NAFDAC said efforts to clean up the drug market will continue, with its top officials reaffirming commitment to ensuring that only approved medicines reach consumers.
