NAFDAC Seizes 277 Cartons of Fake Malaria Drugs from China Worth N1.2bn

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intercepted 277 cartons of fake malaria drugs labeled as Diclofenac potassium enteric coated 50mg package inside a 40ft container with a street value of N1,246,500,000.

The malaria drug named MALAMA FORTE which supposedly contains Arthemeter/Lumefathrine 80/480mg has 18 packs per carton; amounting to about 1,800 doses, came into the country from China.

The Director of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, Dr. Martins Iluyomade who disclosed this to the press on Thursday said the product is currently undergoing tests in the agency’s laboratory to ascertain its real content.

He explained that the container was trailed from Apapa Port, where the consignment was wrongly declared as spare parts.

According to him, a painstaking intelligence operation led by the Deputy Director in charge of Pharmaceutical Division, Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, Mrs Florence Uba led the team to the warehouse where they were offloading the container around the Ilasa area of Lagos on August 29, 2025.

“We got to the warehouse while they were offloading. We also patiently waited, because the things that were in front were other things like bicycles, tyres, and all manner of things. So we waited and discovered the pharmaceutical products”, he said.

Speaking further, Dr. Iluyomade said  the interdiction is in line with the directive of the President, the Ministry of Health, in accordance with the national action plan to make sure that fake and substandard drug circulation are reduced to the bare minimum.

His words: “This enforcement action started before today. It’s a follow-up of several other investigations that we are doing. I want to remind the general public of the raid that was carried out simultaneously in different parts of the country. This is a fight, this is a continuation of that fight.

“Many people have been asking us, so where are these things coming from? How are these things coming in? What is happening? The DG of NAFDAC is not leaving any stone unturned to make sure that we get to the root of how all of this is happening and we give answers to many of the questions that Nigerians have been asking.

“Since we finished that operation, the operation is still continuing underground, trying to put a lot of pieces together to know where the real problem is coming from. I am so happy today, and the DG is also elated because she is aware of what is going on here today, that we are able to have one of the breakthroughs in understanding what actually went on and how these things are happening.

“So this fits in exactly into that plan, among so many other measures that the agency has put in place to make sure that the menace of fake and substandard medicines is removed from this country.

While one Mr. Paul Chibuzor Uche was arrested in connection with the seizure, Dr. Iluyomade said the agency’s investigation shows that the individual behind the consignment is based in China.

He decried the avoidable deaths caused by the usage of such drugs, stating that the agency will do everything possible to bring offenders to book.

“How many people have died of malaria that can simply be treated? But they die because they are using fake medicines. Imagine the number of doses we have here, and how many households would have taken these if it had gotten into the market, thinking they are taking malaria tablets. Almost 500,000 people!

“This cannot continue. It cannot be business as usual. We will make sure we get to the root of it, and we get the people who are bringing this in, and bring them to justice”, he added.