The Lagos State Police Command has intercepted a truckload of suspected counterfeit pharmaceutical products and arrested two suspects in a major operation targeting the illegal drug trade.
Commissioner of Police Tijani Fatai said operatives acted on credible intelligence to intercept the truck at No. 7 Cosway Street in the Otto area of Lagos.
Fatai disclosed that preliminary investigations indicate the consignment was bound for several northern states, with part of it allegedly intended for distribution to neighbouring countries.
The Lagos State Police boss said the seizure prevented the suspected fake medicines from entering the market, warning that counterfeit drugs pose a serious threat to public health.
He added that investigations were ongoing to identify those behind the shipment.
‘The suspects and the recovered products have been handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), which has statutory responsibility for investigating counterfeit drug offences’ he said.
NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Dr Martins Iluyomade, described the seizure as a significant breakthrough, saying similar products previously analysed by the agency contained little or no active pharmaceutical ingredients.
He warned that counterfeit medicines contribute to treatment failures and preventable deaths, describing those behind the trade as a grave threat to public health.
Dr Iluyomade said the agency would conduct laboratory tests on the seized products while expanding investigations to identify and prosecute everyone involved in the supply chain.
The police urged the public to purchase medicines only from licensed pharmacies and report suspected counterfeit drugs to the appropriate authorities.