The Lagos State Police Command has intercepted a truckload of suspected counterfeit drugs and arrested two suspects in a major operation aimed at preventing the circulation of fake medicines.
The Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists at the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) office in Ijora Olopa, Lagos.
Tijani said operatives of the VCRU intercepted the truck in the Otto area of Ijora following credible intelligence on the movement of suspected counterfeit pharmaceutical products.
He described the operation as a significant breakthrough in the command’s efforts to protect residents from criminal activities that threaten public health and safety.
“We are all aware of the proliferation of counterfeit drugs in the country. If such products are allowed to circulate, they pose serious health risks and can endanger the lives of many people,” he said.
According to the police commissioner, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspected fake medicines were being transported for distribution across different parts of Nigeria, with some consignments allegedly destined for neighbouring countries.
He said the command acted promptly to stop the products from reaching the market and exposing unsuspecting consumers to serious health risks.
Tijani disclosed that investigations were ongoing to identify and arrest those behind the production, importation and distribution of the suspected counterfeit drugs.
Although the arrested suspects have yet to reveal the owners of the consignment, he said investigators were working to dismantle the entire criminal network.
The commissioner acknowledged that regulating pharmaceutical products falls primarily under the responsibility of relevant government agencies but stressed that the police would continue to collaborate with them to combat crimes involving counterfeit medicines.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property through intelligence-led operations and urged members of the public to provide credible information that could assist security agencies in tracking fake drug syndicates.
Tijani added that authorities were still conducting an inventory of the recovered products, noting that the total value of the seized drugs had yet to be determined.
Also speaking, the Director of Investigation and Enforcement at the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Chairman of the Federal Task Force on Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods, Dr Martin Iluyomade, confirmed that the consignment contained suspected counterfeit medicines.
He commended the Lagos Police Command for its professionalism and swift response, describing the operation as a clear example of effective collaboration between security and regulatory agencies.
According to Iluyomade, counterfeit medicines pose a serious threat to public health because they contribute to treatment failures and preventable deaths.
He said laboratory analysis would determine the authenticity of the seized products.
The NAFDAC official recalled that the agency confiscated more than 140 truckloads of counterfeit and substandard medicines from markets in Lagos, Aba and Onitsha during a nationwide enforcement operation in 2025.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities involving counterfeit medicines to security and regulatory agencies to help curb the growing menace.
source:NAN
