Lagos: The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says over 10 million doses of fake malaria drugs and cosmetic products worth N3 billion were confiscated at the Trade Fair Market in Lagos.
Dr Martin Iluyomade, NAFDAC Director of Investigation and Enforcement, who disclosed this to newsmen at the agency’s office in Apapa on Monday, said it acted on credible intelligence received on Feb. 3.
Iluyomade said the fake drugs discovered included anti-malaria drugs, injections for cerebral malaria, antibiotics, Postinor (a contraceptive), and Anagin (an analgesic), products that had been banned for almost 15 years in the country, among others.
He said eight truckloads of fake drugs and cosmetic products were evacuated from the three-storey building, which purportedly served as a warehouse for spare parts.
The director said four individuals were arrested, and that the investigation into the operation he described as one of the agency’s major breakthroughs was still ongoing.
“What we saw in the warehouse is one of the major discoveries by the agency lately. They have perfected the act of hiding drugs in unconventional places that you don’t expect to find such products.
“These medicines were stored in large quantities, including life-saving drugs and banned products.
” These drugs were cloned, and it was quite difficult for the authorised manufacturers to identify the original and fake drugs, which was quite disturbing.
“This is a breakthrough not just for NAFDAC but for Nigerians, because the seized drugs could kill three million people if circulated,” he said.
He said the Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye-led NAFDAC team would not relent in its efforts to rid the country of fake and unwholesome products, safeguarding the nation’s health.
“We have zero tolerance for counterfeit drugs. With support from God and Nigerians, the agency will dismantle syndicates endangering lives,” he said.
Iluyomade urged drug distributors to buy only from NAFDAC-accredited manufacturers and encouraged Nigerians to report any suspicious activity to the nearest NAFDAC office.
