Three suspects arrested as agency uncovers warehouses packed with expired pharmaceuticals and dangerous food additives threatening public health.
Lagos, Lagos State – The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) smashed a billion-naira criminal operation this week, arresting three suspects and seizing warehouses filled with fake chemicals and expired pharmaceutical materials. The dramatic raids exposed a sophisticated network that has been flooding Lagos markets with dangerous counterfeit products used in food and drug production.
The Takedown Operation
Acting on intelligence reports, NAFDAC enforcement teams swooped on three Lagos warehouses in a coordinated operation that revealed the shocking scale of the criminal enterprise. Inside the facilities, investigators discovered mountains of expired food flavours, unauthorised fertilisers, and carefully repackaged pharmaceutical raw materials all destined for unsuspecting consumers.
Dr. Martins Iluyomade, Director of Investigation and Enforcement at NAFDAC, described the operation as one of the largest chemical counterfeiting busts in recent memory. “The raid followed credible intelligence about a criminal network engaged in large-scale food and chemical counterfeiting,” he revealed, adding that the seized goods were worth over N1 billion.
A Deadly Game of Russian Roulette
The health implications are staggering. When expired chemicals enter the food and pharmaceutical supply chain, they transform everyday products into potential health hazards. Iluyomade painted a grim picture of what consumers face when these materials reach the market.
“Chemicals are either precursors for other materials or are directly used in the production of consumable goods,” he explained. “Using expired chemicals means that the final product cannot be safe or effective.” For families buying what they believe are legitimate food products or medications, this creates a deadly lottery where any purchase could pose serious health risks.
Inside the Warehouses of Deception
Dr. Leonard Omokpariola, Director of Chemical Evaluation and Research at NAFDAC, walked investigators through the disturbing inventory. The warehouses resembled a twisted marketplace, where expired food flavours sat alongside pharmaceutical ingredients and fertilisers, all stored in conditions that violated every imaginable safety protocol.
What made the operation particularly insidious was the professional repackaging of the information. Criminal operators had been taking expired materials and giving them new labels and fresh packaging, making detection nearly impossible for ordinary consumers and even some retailers.
The Hunt Continues
While three suspects now face charges, NAFDAC officials believe this bust represents just the tip of the iceberg. The agency is pursuing leads that suggest a wider network of suppliers and distributors across Lagos and potentially other states.
Omokpariola issued a stern warning to legitimate businesses handling chemicals: “If you have expired products, NAFDAC has clear guidelines on how to destroy them. Do not pass them off to unauthorised individuals. There will be consequences.”
The main suspect remains at large, prompting NAFDAC to issue a public appeal for surrender. Meanwhile, the three sealed warehouses stand as stark reminders of how criminal networks can exploit gaps in regulatory oversight to endanger public health for profit.
By Abdullah Korede
