The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has uncovered and seized over 10 trucks loaded with fake, expired and falsified drugs at the Ogbo-Ogwu Bridge Head Market in Onitsha, Anambra State.
The operation, which commenced on Monday, has already led to multiple shop raids, revealing a disturbing volume of adulterated and substandard medications worth billions of naira.
NAFDAC’s investigation highlighted the market as a hub for repackaging and revalidating expired medicines, which are often sold to unsuspecting consumers with fraudulent claims of authenticity.
On the fifth day of the operation, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, Director of NAFDAC’s South East Zone, reported to journalists that several containers bearing fake NAFDAC approvals were among the seized drugs.
“Today marks the fifth day of our enforcement exercise, which commenced on Monday. So far, we have confiscated no fewer than 10 trucks, each carrying a 40-foot container filled with fake, substandard, and adulterated drugs from the market. Some of these drugs even bear fraudulent NAFDAC approval claims.
“We detected these fraudulent claims using our scanning and detection machines. The seized drugs include expired, banned, substandard, defective, repackaged, and recalled products.
“These are highly dangerous and can cause death or permanent disability. Our seizure aims to eliminate the risk of these drugs being reintroduced into the market, reaffirming our commitment to safeguarding public health.
“They include expired, banned, substandard, and repackaged products that pose serious health risks,” Iluyomade cautioned.
“Our specialized scanning and detection machines played a critical role in identifying these fraudulent claims. The seizure is crucial for eliminating the risk of these dangerous drugs re-entering the market, reflecting our unwavering commitment to public health,” Iluyomade stated.
During the raids, NAFDAC operatives discovered machines used to rebrand and alter the expiry dates of medications, along with a large quantity of rebagged containers and fraudulent packaging materials.
“This operation follows extensive data collection and intelligence gathering, which revealed large-scale repackaging of counterfeit drugs in the market,” Iluyomade added.
As a result of the operation, several individuals attempting to obstruct NAFDAC’s efforts have been arrested. Iluyomade disclosed that operatives faced multiple bribery attempts, with drug dealers offering up to N135 million to halt the enforcement actions. However, the agency remained resolute in its mission to sanitize the market and combat the circulation of counterfeit drugs.
“Over 90 per cent of the shops investigated in this market are dealing in fake, substandard, repackaged, and counterfeit drugs. If we were to disclose the full extent of our findings, the market would be completely shut down.
“So far, we have transported no fewer than 10 trucks loaded with fake drugs from the market, with more still being loaded. These containers are being moved to our control rooms for further checks before destruction. The scale of what we have uncovered is heartbreaking.
“Many traders attempted to bribe our personnel with a total of N135 million to stop this exercise or allow them to move their fake products. However, we remain resolute in sanitising the market. This exercise is being carried out with full transparency and is not aimed at witch-hunting anyone.
“However, we have identified a few shops, less than 10 per cent, that have passed inspection and have been given a clean bill of health. These shop owners are now our ambassadors,” Iluyomade added.
Conducted in collaboration with security agencies, market leaders, and other stakeholders, the crackdown is part of the Federal Government’s intensified fight against the distribution of harmful pharmaceuticals in Nigeria. NAFDAC is also considering potential legal reforms to enforce stricter penalties for violations, including life imprisonment for serious offenders.
“It is alarming that over 90% of the shops investigated have been found dealing in fake and counterfeit drugs. If we disclosed all our findings, this market might have to be completely shut down,” Iluyomade stated.
Amid the grim revelations, a drug dealer whose shop was cleared, Chukwudi Ikem, expressed his gratitude for the operation.
He remarked, “I used to sell fake drugs, but my conscience got to me, and I decided to turn my life around. I’m relieved to have received a clean bill of health for my shop. Initially, I thought this operation was targeting individuals, but I see now it is a necessary step for the greater good.”
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