NAFDAC operatives
In a major crackdown on counterfeit pharmaceuticals, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has seized 277 cartons of unregistered and fake Malamal Fort malaria drugs valued at over N1.2 billion in Lagos.
The operation, conducted on Thursday, targeted a warehouse along Ilasa-Oshodi, exposing a sophisticated scheme to distribute counterfeit medicines.
NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, revealed details of the operation to journalists.
“We uncovered these fake malaria drugs hidden inside a container falsely declared to carry only spare parts,” Iluyomade stated.
He explained that the drugs, manufactured by Shanxi Tianyuan Pharmaceuticals Group in China, were concealed within cartons labeled as Diclofenac Potassium enteric-coated 50mg, a painkiller.
The seizure is part of NAFDAC’s intensified nationwide campaign to eliminate counterfeit and unregistered drugs..
Iluyomade credited the agency’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, for her relentless efforts, supported by the Presidency and the Ministry of Health, to curb the circulation of substandard medicines.
“This operation has potentially saved 500,000 Nigerians from consuming these dangerous counterfeit drugs,” he noted, adding that the seized products will undergo laboratory testing to determine their true composition.
Iluyomade detailed the operation’s origins, stating, “This is a continuation of enforcement actions launched earlier this year in Lagos, Aba, and Onitsha.”
The container was traced from Apapa port to the warehouse by a team led by Deputy Director Mrs. Florence Uba.
“Each carton contained 18 packs, with 100 sachets per pack. What appeared to be Diclofenac was actually fake malaria medication, raising serious concerns about public safety,” he said.
Further investigation revealed that the mastermind behind the importation had fled to China from Onitsha following NAFDAC’s earlier crackdowns in the region’s drug markets.
“This individual thought they could evade us, but our team’s vigilance ensured otherwise,” Iluyomade emphasized.
Reaffirming NAFDAC’s commitment, Iluyomade declared, “Under Prof. Adeyeye’s leadership, we are determined to protect Nigerians’ health by rooting out counterfeit medicines and holding perpetrators accountable.”
The agency continues to investigate to uncover the full extent of the operation and prevent further threats to public health (NAN)
