The Nigerian military in collaboration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has intercepted 100 trailer loads of fake and substandard drugs valued at over N1 trillion across major drug markets in the South-East and other parts of Nigeria.

The Director of NAFDAC South-East Zone, Dr. Iluyomade Martins, made this disclosure while briefing defence correspondents at the military cantonment in Onitsha during a biannual media tour of the Joint Task Force South-East Operation Udo Ka’s area of responsibility.

He said: “Over 100 trailers loaded with counterfeit and unwholesome pharmaceuticals were intercepted during the month-long exercise. Precisely on February 9, we organised an operation in which Sector 302 was a major player. The objective was to remove fake and substandard medicines from the biggest drug markets in Nigeria.

“We executed the operation simultaneously in Onitsha, Lagos, and Aba, and the Nigerian Army played a critical role in its success.

“We moved more than 100 trailers of fake and substandard medicines from various markets, especially in the South-East. The items we confiscated are worth over N1 trillion.

“You can imagine the number of lives that have been saved by removing these poisons from circulation.”

The Zonal Director stated the joint task force worked tirelessly on the ground for over four weeks, uncovering massive quantities of dangerous drugs hidden in commercial consignments.

He also revealed that a substantial number of the intercepted products were illicit substances that not only endangered public health but also served as financial lifelines for criminal and terrorist networks.

According to him, “A lot of the things we recovered were narcotics that fuel insecurity. If you remove the fueling of insecurity, you’ve already done 50% of the work needed to stabilise the country.”

The director, however, praised the synergy between the Nigerian Army and NAFDAC, citing the operation as a model example of how interagency collaboration can yield tangible results in the fight against crime and insecurity.

Noting that NAFDAC is very happy to collaborate with the Nigerian Army, the director said this is how interagency collaboration should be if government institutions truly want to save Nigeria.

He applauded Sector 302 and Headquarters 82 Division, Nigerian Army, which coordinated and spearheaded the operation with precision and commitment.

He said: “We had the best collaboration with Sector 302 and the 82 Division, and this success shows the power of unity in national security operations.

“The operation is part of a broader push by the federal government and security agencies to crack down on the distribution of illicit substances and counterfeit products, which have been linked to rising insecurity, addiction, and loss of life in the region. Investigations are ongoing, and arrests have been made, with suspects expected to face prosecution.”

The military and NAFDAC, he said, have reiterated their commitment to sustained enforcement efforts to rid Nigerian markets of dangerous pharmaceutical products. (AriseNews TV)