The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has apprehended Lazarus Onwukwe, a suspected major dealer in fake and expired drugs, following a five-month manhunt. The arrest took place on Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area, Abia State.
Onwukwe, accused of operating the largest mini-factory for rebranded and expired pharmaceuticals in South-East Nigeria, was caught attempting to flee his residence in Umuocheala, near Aba, in a Sienna vehicle loaded with pharmaceutical products. Omoyeni Babatunji, NAFDAC’s Deputy Director of Investigation and Enforcement for the South-East and South-South, confirmed the arrest to journalists.
The suspect had been evading authorities since February 11, 2025, when a joint operation involving NAFDAC, the Nigerian Army, Police, and the Department of State Services uncovered a sophisticated drug production hub at his residence. The facility was allegedly used to revalidate, repackage, and distribute expired drugs. “This factory is the largest of its kind discovered in the South-East,” Babatunji stated, noting that seized drugs will undergo laboratory analysis for use as evidence in court.
Surprisingly, despite the facility being sealed earlier, the premises had been rented out to new tenants. No drugs were found during Thursday’s raid. Onwukwe, who admitted owning the property, denied knowledge of NAFDAC’s prior operation, claiming the buildings were used to store “genuine foreign drugs” and that his wife rented them out unknowingly during his three-month illness.
This arrest marks a major victory in NAFDAC’s ongoing battle against counterfeit drugs in Nigeria. The agency vowed to pursue all accomplices and ensure justice, reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding Nigerians from harmful and unregulated pharmaceuticals.
Investigations are ongoing as NAFDAC intensifies efforts to dismantle illegal drug networks across the country.
