NAFDAC Uncovers $1.4M International Fraud Scheme, Arrests Syndicate Leader Who Scammed Foreign Businesses with Fake Product Registrations
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has dismantled a $1.4 million fraud ring that duped foreign businesses into paying for fake product registrations. The syndicate, led by 52-year-old Ikoro Mang Ifendu, was exposed after a complaint from an Abu Dhabi-based company.
Ifendu was arrested in Aba, Abia State, on February 7, 2025, following an extensive investigation. The scheme targeted businesses from China, Japan, Poland, South Korea, the UAE, and the U.S., using counterfeit documents to deceive them into making payments.
NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Christianah Adeyeye, revealed that the fraudsters operated through a three-tier system involving fake importers, fraudulent bank processes, and sham legal services. The syndicate funneled over $950,000 into Nigerian accounts and $450,000 into offshore accounts in Cotonou, Benin Republic. Even after Ifendu’s arrest, a fresh $75,000 deposit alert was detected in one of the fraudulent accounts.
Fake NAFDAC registration certificates, forged revenue receipts, and counterfeit swift transfer documents were presented as evidence. Victims were tricked into paying for registrations on items such as condoms, vegetable oil, and beverages.
NAFDAC has pledged to intensify its crackdown on such fraud, with the case now handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and asset recovery under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Businesses are urged to use official NAFDAC channels to avoid falling prey to similar scams.
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