The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered a horrifying case of expired foreign drugs and supplements being repackaged and sold illegally in Aba, Abia State. In a sweeping operation that has sent shockwaves through the region, NAFDAC officials sealed six flats in a building where drugs past their expiry dates were being stored, repackaged, and labeled as new for public sale.
The warehouse, located in the rural village of Umummeje in Osisioma Local Government Area, was discovered in a covert operation led by Mr. Martins Iluyomade, the South East Zonal Coordinator of NAFDAC. What he found inside the property was nothing short of alarming.
“This is the most shocking discovery I’ve witnessed in my career at NAFDAC,” Mr. Iluyomade told journalists as he toured the warehouse, pointing to piles of foreign drugs stacked in every corner. “This building is filled to capacity with expired drugs, some of which were clearly revalidated and repackaged to deceive the public,” he said.
The property, a large duplex with a boys’ quarters, was packed with boxes containing medicines that appeared to be in new cartons, suggesting that they had recently arrived. Some of the cartons still had shipment markings indicating they had passed through Ikeja Airport in Lagos not long ago. Despite the products’ expiration dates, the perpetrators had cleverly masked their true age and condition with fresh labels.
As Iluyomade moved through the rooms, he described the scene as “incredible and heart-wrenching.” “The kind of drugs stored here are expensive foreign medicines,” he said. “It’s hard to comprehend how anyone could be so callous, selling these expired medicines that could kill innocent people. If a hypertensive patient buys these, they could be buying their own death.”
The drugs discovered in the warehouse were predominantly foreign anti-hypertensive medications and other prescription drugs, many of which are in high demand. The agency has yet to determine the full scale of the illegal operation, but initial assessments suggest the quantity is enormous.
“We’re still in the process of cataloging everything, but this is beyond anything we’ve encountered before,” Iluyomade stated. “The sheer volume of expired medicines here is staggering.”
What made the discovery even more disturbing was the revelation that a machine used to “revalidate” expired drugs was found on-site. The machine, coupled with heaps of unused pharmaceutical labels, indicated that the drugs were being repackaged to appear as though they were new and safe for consumption.
Iluyomade went on to criticize the level of exploitation involved, emphasizing the grave risk to public health. “I don’t understand how someone could be so evil, so willing to put the lives of innocent Nigerians in danger for the sake of profit,” he said. “This is a criminal act that could lead to loss of lives.”
The NAFDAC team was supported by law enforcement agencies, including the police, the Nigerian Army, and the Department of State Services (DSS). According to security personnel at the scene, at least three individuals, including the wife of the main suspect, had been arrested. However, the primary suspect, the man believed to be behind the illicit operation, managed to escape the scene and is currently on the run.
“His wife told us he fled after she was arrested,” said one of the NAFDAC security officials, speaking under the condition of anonymity. “But we will get him. He will face the full weight of the law.”
Despite the escape of the primary suspect, Iluyomade assured the public that the investigation was ongoing and that efforts were underway to bring the fugitive to justice. “Everything we found here, including the vehicles and the buildings, are part of a larger crime scene. We will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that those responsible are held accountable,” he said.
The NAFDAC South East Coordinator also expressed his gratitude to Governor Alex Otti of Abia State for his continued support in the fight against illegal drug trade. “Governor Otti has been instrumental in supporting our efforts to rid Abia of unregistered and expired drugs,” Iluyomade remarked.
In an emotional moment, Iluyomade recalled how he felt upon entering the warehouse, overcome by the sheer scale of the operation. “Seeing so many expired drugs, knowing that people might have been sold these for a quick profit, is heartbreaking,” he said. “These are not just counterfeit medicines; these are life-threatening products that could harm the health of our citizens.”
The NAFDAC Coordinator also referred to recent comments made by the Director-General of the agency, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, who had called for stronger measures to combat the growing issue of fake and substandard medicines in the country. “Our Director-General has made it clear that those found guilty of selling counterfeit or expired drugs should face the death penalty, just as China has implemented in their law,” Iluyomade said.
This discovery in Aba comes at a time when NAFDAC has been ramping up its efforts to ensure public safety, particularly in tackling the illegal drug trade. The agency has urged Nigerians to be vigilant when purchasing medicines and to report any suspicious activities to the authorities.
While the scale of this operation is unprecedented, Iluyomade remains hopeful that with continued cooperation between NAFDAC and other agencies, the illegal drug trade will soon be curbed. “This is not just about seizing illegal products,” he said. “It’s about ensuring the safety of every Nigerian citizen. We are all in this together.”
With the investigation still underway and further arrests expected, this alarming incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangerous world of counterfeit medicine and the importance of collective action in safeguarding public health.
