The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has captured Lazarus Onwukwe, a suspected key distributor of counterfeit and expired medications, following a five-month search. The arrest occurred on Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area, Abia State.
Onwukwe, believed to run the biggest illegal drug repackaging operation in the South-East, was intercepted while trying to escape his home in Umuocheala, near Aba, in a Sienna van packed with pharmaceutical goods. Omoyeni Babatunji, NAFDAC’s Deputy Director of Investigation and Enforcement for the South-East and South-South, verified the arrest to the press.
Authorities had been tracking the suspect since February 11, 2025, when a coordinated raid involving NAFDAC, the Nigerian Army, Police, and DSS exposed an advanced drug reprocessing center at his property. The site was reportedly used to renew expired medications, repackage them, and distribute them illegally. “This is the most extensive operation of its kind uncovered in the South-East,” Babatunji said, adding that confiscated drugs would be tested for court proceedings.
Interestingly, although the facility had been shut down earlier, it was later leased to new occupants. No drugs were recovered during the latest search. Onwukwe, while acknowledging ownership of the property, denied awareness of NAFDAC’s earlier intervention, insisting the buildings stored “authentic imported drugs” and that his wife rented them out without his knowledge while he was ill.
This arrest represents a significant breakthrough in NAFDAC’s fight against fake drugs in Nigeria. The agency pledged to track down all involved parties and uphold justice, reinforcing its dedication to protecting citizens from unsafe and illicit pharmaceuticals.
Further investigations are underway as NAFDAC steps up its crackdown on unlawful drug syndicates nationwide.
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