The Lagos State Police Command has uncovered a major criminal syndicate allegedly involved in the repackaging and interstate trafficking of suspected adulterated and counterfeit pharmaceutical products, leading to the arrest of two suspects and the recovery of hundreds of cartons of suspected fake medicines.
Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, psc, mnips, disclosed the breakthrough during a press briefing on Monday, describing the operation as a significant success in the Command’s ongoing fight against organised crime.
According to the Police Commissioner, operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), acting on credible intelligence, stormed a warehouse at No. 7A Otto Causeway, Otto, Lagos, where they arrested Eze Okwudilichukwu, 52, and Chukwudi Mba, 42, while they were allegedly repackaging suspected adulterated pharmaceutical products for distribution across Nigeria.
Investigations led detectives to another warehouse where a search warrant was executed. During the operation, officers recovered a truck loaded with suspected counterfeit pharmaceutical products bearing registration number KFR 241 XA (Katsina), alongside several other exhibits.
Recovered items include about 300 cartons of suspected adulterated Omeprazole, six bags containing unpackaged suspected adulterated Viagra, Ampiclox, Septrin, Piriton and other pharmaceutical products, ten cartons of suspected adulterated Ampiclox, Viagra and other drugs, as well as more than 300 empty printed packs and cartons allegedly used to repackage the suspected counterfeit medicines.
Police investigations indicate that the syndicate has allegedly been operating for over two years, distributing the suspected fake drugs to different parts of Nigeria, while substantial quantities were also destined for Lomé, Togo, suggesting the existence of a transnational trafficking network.
The Commissioner further revealed that preliminary investigations suggest the suspected adulterated drugs are being manufactured somewhere within Lagos State. Although the production facility has yet to be located, detectives have intensified efforts to identify and dismantle the factory, arrest other members of the syndicate and prosecute everyone connected to the operation.
CP Fatai also disclosed that since the suspects were arrested, several attempts had allegedly been made to compromise the investigation by offering inducements to officers handling the case in a bid to secure the release of the suspects and the recovered exhibits.
He said the officers rejected all such attempts, stressing that the Lagos State Police Command remains committed to professionalism, integrity and the rule of law.
In view of the regulatory nature of the case, the Police formally handed over the suspects, the recovered exhibits and the case file to the Director of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Martins Iluyomade, for further investigation and necessary regulatory action.
The Commissioner commended officers of the Violent Crime Response Unit for their professionalism and urged members of the public to continue providing credible information that would assist security agencies in combating the production and circulation of counterfeit pharmaceutical products.
