…recovers 300 cartons of adulterated Omeprazole
By Imisioluwa Afunmiso
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested two suspects allegedly involved in repackaging and trafficking counterfeit pharmaceutical products across Nigeria and neighboring West African countries.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters in Ikeja, describing the operation as a major breakthrough in dismantling organized criminal networks.
According to the Police commissioner, operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), acting on credible intelligence, arrested Eze Okwudilichukwu, 52, and Chukwudi Mba, 42, at a warehouse located at No. 7A Otto Causeway, Otto, Lagos.
“Following their arrest and interrogation, the suspects led detectives to another warehouse where a search warrant was executed. During the operation, a truck loaded with large quantities of suspected adulterated pharmaceutical products, bearing registration number KFR 241 XA (Katsina), was recovered alongside other exhibits,” Fatai said.
The recovered items included about 300 cartons of suspected adulterated Omeprazole, six bags containing unpackaged suspected adulterated Viagra, Ampiclox, Septrin, and Piriton, ten cartons of other mixed pharmaceutical products, and over 300 empty printed packs and cartons used for repackaging.
Fatai disclosed that preliminary investigations revealed the syndicate had been operating for more than two years, supplying markets across Nigeria as well as Lomé, Togo.
He added that while the manufacturing facility is believed to be located within Lagos State, detectives are continuing efforts to locate the factory and arrest all remaining collaborators.
The commissioner also revealed that officers resisted desperate attempts by external parties to compromise the investigation through financial inducements.
“These attempts were firmly resisted,” Fatai said, reaffirming the Command’s commitment to integrity and the rule of law.
Due to the nature of the offense, the police formally handed over the suspects, recovered exhibits, and case file to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further investigation and regulatory action.
The Director of NAFDAC in Lagos, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, received the case on behalf of the agency.
Fatai commended the VCRU operatives for their diligence and urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious manufacturing activities to help curb the circulation of fake medicines.