The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intensified its crackdown on counterfeit pharmaceuticals, uncovering a large-scale operation repackaging expired drugs in Umumeje village, Osisioma Ngwa, near Ariaria International Market.
In a video posted on its official website on Friday, NAFDAC exposed an illicit facility comprising multiple buildings. The facility contained machines used to erase and alter expiry dates on expired medications, which were then resold as genuine products. Among the seized items were potassium chloride, allergy medications, immune boosters, and cholesterol treatments.
Some individuals were arrested during the raid, but the prime suspect remains at large. Authorities say he has shown no concern for his detained family members.
NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, condemned the operation, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to protecting public health.
“The circulation of substandard and falsified drugs is a serious threat to Nigerians. We will not relent in our efforts to bring perpetrators to justice,” she stated.
The agency, in collaboration with security agencies, is also reviewing its legal framework to impose stricter penalties on offenders.
“We are pushing for stronger laws to ensure that those endangering lives through fake drugs face the full weight of the law,” a NAFDAC official revealed.
With this latest discovery, NAFDAC urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious pharmaceutical activities to curb the menace of counterfeit medicines.
