By John Umeh
Nigeria’s drug regulatory agency, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has uncovered a large-scale counterfeit pharmaceutical operation in Lagos, intercepting more than 10 million doses of falsified and prohibited medicines concealed in secluded warehouses across the state.
NAFDAC officials described the discovery as one of the most dangerous fake-drug operations uncovered in recent times, warning that the seized products posed a direct threat to public health and could have led to countless deaths if allowed into circulation.
Speaking to journalists during a press briefing in Lagos, the agency’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Mr Martins Iluyomade—who also chairs the Federal Task Force on Fake and Substandard Products—said the operation was triggered by intelligence received during a security-focused training meeting held on February 3.
“Following credible information shared at that meeting, our operatives moved into the Trade Fair–Navy axis of Lagos and discovered several warehouse facilities disguised as residential buildings,” Iluyomade explained. “These structures were located in an isolated area with little human activity, which made it easier for the operators to function unnoticed.”
A search of the warehouses revealed vast quantities of counterfeit pharmaceutical products, including injectable anti-malarial drugs, antibiotics, sachet medications, blister-packed tablets, and other falsified medicines. Officials also recovered banned substances such as Analgin, which has been outlawed in Nigeria for more than 15 years.
According to Iluyomade, many of the seized drugs were critical, life-saving medications often used in emergency situations.
“What we saw was heartbreaking. These were not harmless supplements; they were essential drugs used in cases like severe malaria and other medical emergencies,” he said. “Administering fake injections in such situations can easily result in death.”
He noted that the counterfeit products were produced with alarming sophistication, making them extremely difficult to distinguish from genuine medicines.
“The level of cloning is so advanced that even manufacturers sometimes struggle to identify the fakes. That is how far these criminal networks have gone,” he added.
NAFDAC estimated the street value of the confiscated drugs at more than ₦3 billion. In total, eight truckloads of fake medicines and cosmetic products were evacuated from the warehouses during the operation.
Iluyomade described the bust as a significant victory for consumer safety, assuring Nigerians that none of the seized items would reach the market.
“This is a major breakthrough. These products are now out of circulation and will be destroyed in accordance with the law,” he said.
The agency also disclosed that investigations point to the involvement of a well-coordinated international criminal network.
“This is not the work of small-time operators,” Iluyomade said. “They obtain samples of original products, replicate them almost perfectly overseas, and then reintroduce them into Nigeria’s supply chain. It is organised crime with collaborators both within and outside the country.”
He warned that the activities of counterfeit drug syndicates pose a serious threat to Nigeria’s healthcare system and the integrity of legitimate pharmaceutical brands.
“Our health sector is under attack by people whose only motivation is profit, even if it means endangering lives and destroying trusted medical products,” he said.
Iluyomade further revealed that some pharmaceutical companies had reported the circulation of fake versions of their products for months, noting that the criminals often distribute in small batches to avoid drawing attention.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, warning that unusually cheap medicines could be deadly.
“If a drug is far cheaper than expected, it is not a blessing. It may be fake, and it could cost you your life,” he cautioned.
