NAFDAC counterfeit malaria drugs seizure hits ₦1.2bn

NAFDAC Counterfeit Malaria Drugs seizure worth ₦1.2bn in Lagos reinforces crackdown on smugglers threatening Nigeria’s public health

In a statement released on Friday via its official X handle, the agency revealed that operatives raided a warehouse in the Ilasa-Oshodi area, where 277 cartons of fake Malamal Forte were discovered.

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The unregistered products had been concealed in cartons labelled as Diclofenac Potassium 50mg and illegally imported from Shanxi Tianyuan Pharmaceuticals Group in China. The consignment was falsely declared as spare parts to evade detection.

NAFDAC’s Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, described the interception as part of the agency’s broader crackdown on counterfeiters.

“This seizure is part of NAFDAC’s sustained nationwide operation to protect public health and ensure only safe, quality medicines are available to Nigerians,” she said.

Adeyeye stressed that the ongoing fight against fake drugs has been bolstered by stronger government backing, noting that cooperation with other security agencies has improved surveillance at ports and warehouses nationwide.

The agency issued a fresh warning to importers and distributors that it will not relent in its efforts to rid the Nigerian market of dangerous products capable of endangering lives.

Counterfeit medicines remain a major public health challenge in Nigeria, where malaria continues to exact a heavy toll.

According to the World Health Organisation, Nigeria accounts for about 27 per cent of global malaria cases and 31 per cent of malaria deaths.

Experts warn that fake antimalarial drugs not only put lives at risk but also fuel resistance to treatment, undermining progress in controlling the disease.

Friday’s NAFDAC Counterfeit Malaria Drugs seizure underscores the agency’s growing resolve to disrupt the networks of smugglers and illicit distributors.

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In recent years, similar raids have led to the confiscation of counterfeit antibiotics, painkillers, and antimalarials valued in billions of naira, highlighting both the scale of the problem and the determination to curb it.