Analytical Investigation of Fake Pharmaceutical Products Intercepted by NAFDAC in Kano State

The proliferation of counterfeit and substandard pharmaceutical products in Nigerian markets constitutes a major public health threat and a forensic regulatory challenge requiring rigorous analytical investigation. This study analytically examines the chemical composition and quality deficiencies of fake pharmaceutical products intercepted by NAFDAC in Kano State between 2019 and 2024. An empirical laboratory-based analytical design was employed, selecting sixty pharmaceutical samples from NAFDAC Kano's evidence archive across antimalarial, antihypertensive, and antibiotic product categories. Samples were subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography, dissolution testing, and identity confirmation by infrared spectroscopy, with results compared against approved pharmacopoeial specifications. The study also assesses the forensic markers used to identify counterfeit products and the traceability of manufacturing sources. Findings reveal that forty-seven percent of tested samples contained active pharmaceutical ingredient concentrations below seventy-five percent of the stated dosage, constituting subtherapeutic formulations. Counterfeit packaging indicators were present in sixty-three percent of samples, including inconsistent font types, misaligned holograms, and incorrect batch number formats. Definitive manufacturer traceability was achieved in only twenty-two percent of samples due to the sophistication of counterfeit packaging reproduction. Recommendations include the deployment of portable near-infrared spectroscopy devices for rapid field screening by NAFDAC officers in North West markets and enhanced international regulatory cooperation to trace counterfeit supply chains. Keywords: counterfeit pharmaceuticals, forensic analysis, NAFDAC, Kano State, HPLC.