NAFDAC Busts ₦1.2bn Fake Malaria Drugs Shipment Falsely Declared as Spare Parts
- Counterfeit malaria drugs valued at ₦1.2bn have been uncovered in a Lagos warehouse by NAFDAC
- The shipments falsely declared as spare parts from China were traced to a pharmaceutical group abroad
- NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Adeyeye, also pledged a renewed crackdown on counterfeit medicines
Fake malaria drugs worth over ₦1.2 billion have been seized in Lagos, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) announced on Friday, September 9.
Source: Twitter
The Agency disclosed this via its official X handle, confirming that 277 cartons of the fake products were uncovered in a warehouse at Ilasa-Oshodi.
The counterfeit drugs, identified as Malamal Forte, were allegedly smuggled into the country and concealed in cartons labeled as Diclofenac Potassium 50mg.
Smuggling from China concealed as spare parts
According to NAFDAC, the shipment originated from Shanxi Tianyuan Pharmaceuticals Group in China and was declared as spare parts in an attempt to evade detection.
"The fake drugs, which were concealed in cartons labelled as Diclofenac Potassium 50mg, were illegally imported from Shanxi Tianyuan Pharmaceuticals Group in China. They were falsely declared as spare parts in the shipping container."
“This seizure is part of NAFDAC’s sustained nationwide operation to protect public health and ensure only safe, quality medicines are available to Nigerians,” the agency stated
DG vows crackdown on counterfeit medicines
NAFDAC’s boss, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the agency is determined to clear harmful and unregistered drugs from Nigeria’s markets.
Source: UGC
“NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment, with the full support of the Presidency and Federal Ministry of Health, to eliminating counterfeit and substandard medicines from Nigeria.”
She said the Agency will work harder to make sure medicines are safe and punish offenders.
Read more news on NAFDAC operations here:
- NAFDAC Discovers Over N7m Worth of Expired Drugs in Abuja, Seals Pharmacy
- FG Issues Public Alert on Life-Destroying Medication with Fake NAFDAC Number
- NAFDAC Issues Alert on Fake Postinor Being Sold, Explains How to Find Original One
- NAFDAC Alerts Nigerians, Bans Popular Deodorant Variant Over “Harmful Chemical Content”
NAFDAC seals Lagos skincare firm
In a related development, Legit.ng reported that NAFDAC shut Shine Shine Skincare in Agege, Lagos, after discovering harmful and unregistered bleaching products made under unsafe conditions and deceptively marketed as “organic” cosmetics.
The agency said items like Peeling White Scrub, Radiant Glow, and Whitening Black Soap contained banned substances, falsely presented as safe alternatives, and promoted heavily on Instagram, posing severe health and skin risks to Nigerians.
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye explained the shutdown was necessary to protect public health, warning that many bleaching creams cause long-term damage, as NAFDAC vowed tougher nationwide enforcement to withdraw all unregistered skincare products from circulation.
FG bans sachet alcoholic drinks
Legit.ng reported that the federal government banned the production of sachet and small bottled alcoholic drinks, following the expiration of the grace period earlier granted to manufacturers.
NAFDAC disclosed that enforcement of the directive began on February 1, 2024, after a phased reduction plan agreed by a multilateral committee
Source: Legit.ng
