NAFDAC fake chemical raid exposes repackaged drugs, expired food additives, and illegal fertilisers worth over N1bn during a shocking bust in Ketu, Lagos

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he NAFDAC fake chemical raid in the Alapere area of Ketu, Lagos State has uncovered a billion-naira criminal network involving counterfeit chemicals, expired food flavours, and unauthorised fertilisers.

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control confirmed the shocking operation in a statement issued on Tuesday.

NAFDAC officials raided three warehouses and arrested three suspects during an enforcement exercise following credible intelligence about illegal activity.

The agency sealed off the warehouses, which contained a disturbing stockpile of expired and mislabelled chemical substances intended for use in food and pharmaceutical production.

“This is one of the campaigns our agency is carrying out to protect the health of Nigerians,” said Dr Martins Iluyomade, Director of Investigation and Enforcement.

He explained that the suspects disguised their activities behind what appeared to be legitimate businesses while distributing substances that posed severe health risks.

Iluyomade stressed that expired chemicals used in food and drug production could not be considered safe or effective.

“Using expired chemicals means that the final product cannot be safe or effective. That is a serious health risk,” he warned. These chemicals, he said, were either direct components or precursors for consumable goods.

More alarmingly, the operation uncovered fertilisers that are normally classified as high-risk and require strict authorisation from the National Security Adviser. These included substances not intended for commercial use by the general public.

“This individual had fertilisers and additives meant to be handled only by licensed end users or government agencies,” Iluyomade stated.

He also raised concerns about the supply chain, noting that some of the expired food-grade products were sourced from registered importers, implying possible complicity or gross negligence.

Dr Leonard Omokpariola, Director of Chemical Evaluation and Research at NAFDAC, listed many of the dangerous items recovered.

These included expired food flavourings such as roasted beef, roasted chicken, and Chinook, along with active pharmaceutical ingredients like metronidazole benzoate.

“We also discovered caustic soda, urea fertiliser, and propylene glycol all stored in unsafe, junkyard-like conditions,” he revealed.

Omokpariola described the warehouse as an illegal repackaging hub, where expired products were fitted with counterfeit labels bearing future expiry dates and false certification claims.

“This person was printing and applying expiry labels himself. Many items that had already expired were relabelled to appear valid,” Omokpariola said.

Some items were falsely marked “Made in China” and “QC certified,” despite having long exceeded their shelf life.

The presence of restricted substances such as excipients and cola additives without any official licensing added to the gravity of the offence.

NAFDAC stressed that expired food-grade and pharmaceutical chemicals cannot be revalidated under any circumstances.

“This is more dangerous than expired paracetamol,” Omokpariola noted. “When a drug expires, you can choose not to take it.

But when expired chemicals are used to make drugs, you won’t know unless a lab test is done. That’s the real danger.”

NAFDAC has expanded its investigation beyond those arrested on site. Authorities are now tracking additional suspects and reviewing the involvement of registered companies.

“We are also probing the companies that sold these materials, especially registered multinationals who may have enabled this illegal operation,” Omokpariola confirmed.

He urged all chemical handlers to follow NAFDAC’s proper disposal protocols, warning of legal consequences for non-compliance.

“If you have expired products, NAFDAC has clear guidelines on how to destroy them. Do not pass them off to unauthorised individuals. There will be consequences,” he warned.

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As the NAFDAC fake chemical raid continues to unfold, the agency has promised a full-scale crackdown to protect public health and restore confidence in Nigeria’s regulated chemical supply chain.