Police Seize ₦1 Billion in Counterfeit Drugs in Lagos

Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command intercepted a truckload of suspected counterfeit pharmaceutical products, valued at over ₦1 billion, during an intelligence-led operation by the Violent Crime Response Unit. Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, announced the seizure while handing over the products to officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The drugs were being transported for distribution across Nigeria and beyond when the police intervened, leading to the arrest of the truck driver and two additional suspects. Tijani emphasized the significance of this operation, stating that the counterfeit drugs could have endangered countless lives.

Dr Martins Iluyomade, Director of Investigation at NAFDAC, described the recovery as "massive and humongous," urging for enhanced collaboration among government agencies to combat such crimes. He noted that many of the seized medicines contained little or no active pharmaceutical ingredients, posing severe health risks.

Iluyomade also highlighted previous efforts, mentioning that NAFDAC removed over 140 truckloads of counterfeit medicines from markets in Onitsha and Aba last year.