The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intercepted and confiscated over 10 trucks loaded with fake, expired, and substandard drugs at the Ogbo-Ogwu Bridge Head Market in Onitsha, Anambra State.
The enforcement operation, which began on Monday, uncovered a large-scale illegal trade in counterfeit pharmaceuticals.
According to NAFDAC’s Director for the South East Zone, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, the seized trucks—each carrying a 40-foot container—contained adulterated and rebranded medicines, some fraudulently labeled with NAFDAC approval numbers.
The operation, which entered its fifth day on Friday, also led to the discovery of machines used to alter expiry dates and repackage expired drugs for resale.
“This market has become a hub for repackaging and revalidating expired medicines with false claims. Many of these drugs pose severe health risks, including death or permanent disability. Our goal is to prevent these dangerous products from returning to the market,” Iluyomade said.
He revealed that some traders attempted to bribe NAFDAC officials with N135 million to halt the raid, but the agency rejected the offer.
“We remain steadfast in sanitizing the market, and we will not compromise public health for any amount of money,” he added.
Several individuals involved in the illicit trade have been arrested, while NAFDAC, in collaboration with security agencies, continues to inspect and seize counterfeit pharmaceuticals.
The agency is also pushing for stricter penalties, including life imprisonment or the death penalty, for those found guilty of producing and distributing fake drugs.
Iluyomade noted that while over 90 percent of shops inspected were found dealing in counterfeit medicines, a small number of traders were cleared of wrongdoing.
One of them, Chukwudi Ikem, expressed relief at being exonerated, acknowledging that he had previously engaged in selling fake drugs before choosing to reform.
“If this raid had happened a few years ago, I wouldn’t have escaped,” Ikem admitted.
“I’m grateful my shop was cleared, and I now support NAFDAC’s efforts to clean up the market.”
NAFDAC has vowed to continue its crackdown on counterfeit drug distribution, ensuring that only safe and approved pharmaceuticals reach Nigerian consumers.
