NAFDAC Busts Massive ₦3 Billion Fake Cosmetics Warehouse Hidden in Lagos

By Tgnews Reporter

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered a sprawling warehouse concealing banned, fake, and unregistered cosmetic products valued at over ₦3 billion at the APT Trade Fair Complex in Lagos State.

The illicit facility, cleverly hidden within an uncompleted building to evade detection, was raided by NAFDAC enforcement officers following intelligence-led operations. Officials described the discovery as one of the significant hauls targeting dangerous substandard cosmetics flooding the Nigerian market.

Among the seized items were large quantities of prohibited skin-lightening soaps and other whitening products, including brands such as Crusader soap (728 cartons), E45 soap (718 cartons), and Extract Gold whitening soaps—all banned by NAFDAC due to their harmful ingredients, which often contain toxic substances like mercury or high levels of hydroquinone that can cause severe skin damage, kidney failure, and other life-threatening health issues.

The warehouse operation forms part of a broader syndicate involving fake pharmaceuticals, as recent related raids in the same Trade Fair area uncovered over 10 million doses of counterfeit anti-malarial drugs, banned antibiotics, and other prohibited medicines also estimated at street value exceeding ₦3 billion.

In those operations, authorities evacuated eight truckloads of assorted fake drugs and cosmetics from disguised warehouses, including one posing as a spare parts shop in a three-storey building.

NAFDAC Director of Investigation and Enforcement highlighted the sophistication of these criminal networks, noting how perpetrators use concealment tactics in unfinished structures and mislabeled premises to stockpile “death-trap” products that pose grave risks to public health, particularly among vulnerable consumers seeking affordable beauty enhancements.

“The circulation of these banned and fake cosmetics is not just economic sabotage but a direct threat to lives,” NAFDAC officials emphasized in statements.

The agency has intensified surveillance and enforcement across major markets, urging the public to report suspicious activities and purchase regulated products only from verified outlets.

All confiscated items have been evacuated for destruction, and investigations continue to apprehend those behind the operation. NAFDAC reiterated its commitment to safeguarding Nigerians from substandard and counterfeit regulated products, warning that violators face severe penalties under the law.

This latest seizure underscores ongoing challenges in combating fake goods in Nigeria’s bustling trade hubs, with authorities calling for heightened vigilance from consumers and stricter border controls to stem the influx of illicit imports.