PICTORIAL: NAFDAC seals 3,000 shops in Lagos, seizes 12 truckloads of fake drugs

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has intensified its enforcement efforts against the sale of illicit and counterfeit pharmaceuticals, sealing over 3,000 shops within the Idumota Open Drug Market in Lagos in the first week of operations.

This was made known in a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday by NAFDAC.

During the raid, officials uncovered alarming violations, including vaccines stored in dilapidated, unventilated rooms sealed with iron sheets, posing severe health risks.

Large consignments of banned and dangerous drugs were also discovered, including Analgin injections, diverted HIV antiretroviral drugs, and expired medicines slated for illegal revalidation.

The statement said, “In the first week of enforcement, NAFDAC screened and sealed over 3,000 shops within the Idumota Open Drug Market in Lagos.

“Among the discoveries were vaccines stored in dilapidated, unventilated rooms sealed with iron sheets in highly unsanitary conditions.

“Additionally, large consignments of banned products, including Analgin injections, diverted-free HIV antiretroviral drugs, expired medicines set for revalidation, and unregistered pharmaceuticals, were found.

“We have evacuated illicit pharmaceuticals equivalent to 12 truckloads.

“Empty packs and cartons of expired unregistered antimalarial injections were discovered inside a packing shop. The vials were removed.

“#HappeningNow Ecstasy (MDMA or Molly), various brands of Codeine Cough Syrup and Tramadol 225, were discovered in a warehouse within the market, away from the pharmaceutical section where other products are sold.”

The enforcement operation is part of NAFDAC’s renewed commitment to sanitising the country’s drug distribution system and curbing the proliferation of counterfeit and dangerous medications, the agency said.