Nigerian authorities have successfully dismantled a large-scale counterfeit drug trafficking operation, seizing 277 cartons of fake malaria medication valued at over 1.2 billion rupees (approximately $350 million) en route to Lagos.
According to Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the shipment was disguised as spare parts and discovered in a suspicious container. After weeks of surveillance, the agency conducted a raid and confiscated the entire consignment from a warehouse in Ilasa-Oshodi, Lagos.
The seized product, Malamal Forte tablets, is unregistered in Nigeria and was illicitly imported from Shanxi Tianyuan Pharmaceutical Group, China. NAFDAC highlights this as a severe violation, posing not only illegal import risks but also a direct threat to public health.
Nigeria is among the countries most severely affected by malaria, with thousands of fatalities annually. The use of counterfeit drugs in treating this deadly disease can have catastrophic consequences.
“Counterfeit or falsified medicines endanger public health as they fail to meet regulatory standards, compromising safety, quality, and efficacy,” NAFDAC warns. “Using such products often results in ineffective treatment, leading to severe health outcomes, including death.”
This raid is part of Nigeria’s ongoing battle against the proliferation of counterfeit drugs. Recently, Ajanta Pharma, an Indian pharmaceutical company, alerted NAFDAC about fake versions of its anti-malarial drug Aflotin 20/120 circulating in Nigeria. This underscores the widespread nature of the issue across supply chains.
Health experts emphasize that beyond economic losses, counterfeit drugs erode trust in healthcare systems and undermine malaria control programs. NAFDAC urges citizens to purchase medications only from licensed pharmacies and report suspicious products immediately.
The Lagos incident serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threat of counterfeit drugs in Nigeria, despite regulatory efforts. NAFDAC vows to strengthen collaboration with domestic and international agencies to enhance surveillance, tighten import controls, and safeguard public health.
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