The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered a major illegal operation in Alapere, Ketu, Lagos, seizing expired chemicals, fake food-grade additives, and restricted substances worth over ₦1 billion.
During the raid, three warehouses were sealed, and three suspects were arrested. The seized items included expired chemicals and active pharmaceutical ingredients such as metronidazole benzoate, caustic soda, urea fertilizer, and propylene glycol, some of which were traced back to licensed importers but had been diverted to unlicensed third parties.
NAFDAC officials warned that these expired and counterfeit substances pose serious threats to public health and national security, especially as they could be used in manufacturing drugs and food products without consumers’ knowledge. Packaging materials with forged expiry dates and false “Made in China” labels were also found, highlighting the extent of the criminal activities.
The agency has launched an ongoing investigation to identify all parties involved and prevent further circulation of harmful substances. The arrests and seizure underscore the critical need for strict regulatory oversight to protect Nigerians from dangerous counterfeit and expired products.