Police find fake drug warehouses in Lagos, arrest two suspects

The Lagos State Police have discovered two warehouses believed to be involved in repackaging fake drugs. They also arrested two men suspected of being part of a group that distributes these counterfeit medicines across Nigeria and beyond.

Police Commissioner Fatai Tijani shared this news on Monday. He spoke with reporters at the Violent Crime Response Unit in Ijora Olopa, Lagos.

The suspects are Eze Okwudilichukwu, 52, and Chukwudi Mba, 42. They were caught during a police operation based on solid information gathered by detectives from the unit.

The police found the suspects at a warehouse at Number 7A Otto Causeway, Otto, Lagos. There, they were allegedly repackaging fake pharmaceutical products to send to different parts of Nigeria.

Fatai mentioned that the operation was based on reliable intelligence about the suspects' activities.

He said, “The suspects, Eze Okwudilichukwu ‘m’ 52 years, and Chukwudi Mba ‘m’ 42 years, were arrested at their warehouse located at No. 7A Otto Causeway, Otto, Lagos, where they were found repackaging suspected adulterated pharmaceutical products for distribution to different parts of Nigeria.”

After the arrest, the suspects led police to another warehouse. There, police executed a search warrant. They found a truck loaded with a large quantity of suspected fake drugs. The truck had the registration number KFR 241 XA from Katsina.

The police seized items including about 300 cartons of suspected Omeprazole, six bags of unpackaged suspected Viagra, Ampiclox, Septrin, Piriton, and other drugs. They also found around 10 cartons of suspected Ampiclox and Viagra.

Fatai pointed out that they recovered over 300 empty printed packs and cartons used for repackaging fake drugs. Preliminary investigations show that this group has been active in the repackaging and distribution of these drugs for more than two years.

He added that detectives found evidence that suggested these drugs were sent to various places in Nigeria. Some larger shipments were heading to Lomé, Togo. This shows that the group has an international network.

“The investigation also suggests that the suspected fake drugs are being made somewhere in Lagos State.

“While we have not found the production site yet, detectives are working hard to locate and shut it down. They will also arrest everyone involved in this operation and ensure they face justice,” Fatai stated.

The commissioner also mentioned that there were attempts to interfere with the investigation after the arrests were made.

“It is important to say that since we arrested the suspects, there have been desperate attempts to influence officers of the Violent Crime Response Unit to release both the suspects and the items we seized.

“I want to make it clear that we resisted these attempts. The Lagos State Police Command will continue to uphold professionalism, integrity, and the rule of law. No amount of pressure will change our commitment to justice,” he said.

Tijani explained that the suspects, the seized items, and the case file have been given to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. This is for further investigation and possible prosecution.

He said this handover is necessary because the case falls under the agency's regulatory responsibilities.

The commissioner praised the Violent Crime Response Unit for their professional and intelligence-led operation. He urged the public to share useful information about the production and distribution of fake pharmaceutical products and other crimes.