Follow Us on Google
The Lagos State Police Command has intercepted a truckload of suspected counterfeit and substandard pharmaceutical products worth billions of naira at Otto, Ijora, Lagos.
Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizure and handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The operation was carried out by the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU).
Speaking during a press briefing at the VCRU headquarters in Ijora-Olopa, the Commissioner of Police, CP Fatai Tijani, described the operation as one of the Command’s most significant breakthroughs in recent weeks.
He said the intelligence-led operation prevented the dangerous products from entering the market, where they could have endangered the lives of millions of Nigerians.
According to him, preliminary investigations indicate that the suspected counterfeit medicines were being transported to northern Nigeria, while part of the consignment was also destined for neighbouring countries.
“We believe this is one of our major achievements in the last one week. If these drugs had found their way into circulation, they would have endangered the lives of countless Nigerians,” the Commissioner said.
Investigations revealed that the criminal syndicate had allegedly been engaged in the repackaging and distribution of suspected adulterated pharmaceutical products for more than two years.
Further findings showed that the products were being transported to different parts of Nigeria, with substantial quantities also destined for Lomé, Togo, pointing to the existence of a transnational distribution network.
The police also believe the suspected adulterated drugs are being manufactured somewhere within Lagos State. Although the production facility has yet to be located, detectives have intensified efforts to identify and dismantle the factory, arrest all those connected with the operation and bring them to justice.
CP Tijani disclosed that since the suspects were arrested, there had been desperate attempts by some individuals to compromise the investigation by offering inducements to officers of the VCRU to secure the release of both the suspects and the recovered exhibits.
“I wish to categorically state that these attempts were firmly resisted. The Lagos State Police Command remains committed to professionalism, integrity and the rule of law, and no amount of pressure or inducement will derail the course of justice,” he said.
Formally handing over the suspects, exhibits and case file to NAFDAC, the Commissioner said the agency was better positioned to continue the investigation and undertake the necessary regulatory actions.
“Given the nature of this case and its direct relevance to the regulation and enforcement of standards relating to pharmaceutical products, I hereby hand over the suspects, the recovered exhibits and the case file to the Director of NAFDAC, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, for further investigation and necessary regulatory action.
Other News
“This handover underscores the Lagos State Police Command’s resolve to ensure that all those responsible are brought to justice through the appropriate legal and regulatory processes.”
The Commissioner commended officers and men of the VCRU for their professionalism, diligence and commitment, noting that their intelligence-driven operation led to the successful interception of the criminal syndicate.
He also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and provide credible information on suspicious activities involving counterfeit pharmaceutical products and other criminal enterprises.
Receiving the suspects and exhibits, NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, praised the Lagos State Police Command for its professionalism, resilience and refusal to succumb to pressure.
He described the seizure as a clear demonstration of effective inter-agency collaboration.
“This volume of interception takes determination. There would have been temptations, inducements and intimidation, but the officers stood their ground. That is commendable and shows that inter-agency collaboration is working,” he said.
After inspecting the recovered products, Iluyomade described the haul as “intimidating,” alleging that many of the medicines appeared to contain little or no active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Displaying a pack of suspected counterfeit Buscopan tablets, he explained that previous laboratory analyses of similar products showed many contained little more than powder, leaving patients without effective treatment.
“These are the real silent killers. This is even worse than terrorism because fake medicines can kill millions quietly, and victims even pay their own money to buy them,” he warned.
He added that counterfeit medicines contribute significantly to treatment failures, avoidable deaths and the growing burden of preventable diseases across Nigeria.
Iluyomade recalled that NAFDAC’s Federal Task Force removed more than 140 truckloads of counterfeit medicines from markets in Onitsha and Aba during a nationwide enforcement operation last year, lamenting that criminal syndicates continue to flood the country with fake pharmaceutical products despite repeated crackdowns.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and report suspicious medicines to the appropriate authorities, stressing that eliminating counterfeit drugs requires sustained collaboration among law enforcement agencies, regulatory bodies and the public.
Police said investigations are ongoing to identify the financiers and other members of the distribution network behind the intercepted consignment, which included about 300 cartons of suspected adulterated Omeprazole.
