NAFDAC uncovers fake alcohol supply hub in Lagos

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered more than 100 sacks of empty alcoholic beverage bottles allegedly stockpiled for supply to suspected counterfeit drink producers in Lagos.

The bottles were found in a residential building at 322B Meiran Road, Agbado Oke-Odo, during an operation by the agency’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate.

NAFDAC said the bottles were destroyed to prevent their possible reuse in the production of counterfeit alcoholic beverages.

In a video released by the agency on Friday, an Assistant Director in the directorate, Kunle Ojo, said the operation followed credible intelligence about activities at the location.

Ojo said operatives found bottles of different sizes and brands stacked under tarpaulins in the building, which is situated in a secluded residential area.

He identified some of the bottles as those bearing labels associated with Action Bitter and Royal Circle Premium Whiskey, among other alcoholic beverages.

According to him, the bottles were allegedly being stored for distribution to suspected counterfeiters who could reuse them to package fake alcoholic drinks.

“What these people are planning to do, or what they do here, is to watch the bottle supply to different suspected counterfeiters to be used for another production,” Ojo said.

He condemned the use of residential buildings for such activities, stressing that the agency was working to protect public health from the dangers posed by counterfeit products.

“This is a residential area, and this is not acceptable to government. We are here to safeguard the health of the nation,” he said.

Ojo urged residents to report suspicious activities in their neighbourhoods to the nearest NAFDAC office to help curb the production and distribution of counterfeit goods.

He particularly called on women to alert the agency whenever they noticed suspicious activities in their communities.

“We are calling on all women in Nigeria, please, when you see something taking place in your area, kindly notify the nearest NAFDAC office so that we can stop this menace, so that we can save our country from all these counterfeiters,” he added.