NAFDAC Busts Fake Drinks Factory in Lagos, Arrests Two Suspects

…Energy drinks, wine, whisky allegedly repackaged at secret facility in Trade Fair Complex

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered a suspected counterfeit drinks production facility at the BBA Trade Fair Complex along the Badagry Expressway, Ojo, Lagos State, arresting two suspects over their alleged involvement in the illegal operation.

The facility, located at Zamfara Plaza within the complex, was raided following intelligence reports and surveillance on suspected counterfeiters operating in the Trade Fair International Market.

The suspects, identified as Chibuzor Okafor and William John, were arrested in a two-storey building where officials recovered equipment and materials allegedly used to repackage alcoholic beverages and energy drinks.

Items recovered during the operation included drums, filters, packaging materials, a heating device and other equipment suspected to have been used in the production and repackaging process.

Speaking during the raid, the Assistant Director of NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, Mr Kunle Ojo, said some of the suspects were caught in the act.

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“Gentlemen of the press, as you can see today, when we came, we caught some red-handed people producing all kinds of alcoholic drinks,” Ojo said.

He described the discovery as alarming, stressing that the agency was determined to protect Nigerians from the dangers associated with counterfeit and potentially adulterated beverages.

“What we have discovered today is a lot, and it’s mind-boggling. We are here to protect the lives of many Nigerians,” he added.

Ojo said NAFDAC had intensified its enforcement operations ahead of the festive season, when demand for alcoholic and other beverages usually increases.

He warned that the production and circulation of counterfeit drinks posed serious public health risks, urging those involved to abandon the illegal trade.

“You are killing Nigerians in order to make money, which is not good,” he said.

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The NAFDAC official disclosed that investigations would be extended to the sources of the drinks and raw materials, as well as individuals allegedly financing or directing the operation.

“Where are they getting the products from? Where are they getting their raw materials? Who is employing them to do this kind of dangerous activity?” he asked.

He added that the recovered products and materials would be moved to the agency’s warehouse for further action, including destruction in line with established procedures.

Ojo said the arrested suspects would face administrative action and possible prosecution in accordance with the law.

One of the suspects, Okafor, who described himself as a drinks dealer in the market, told Vanguard that his role involved transferring drinks from one bottle to another.

“I deal in drinks. I change the bottle of the drink. It’s not that the bottle is not good. It’s the drink in there, because the other one is already damaged. So that’s why we are putting it in the next bottle,” he said.

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Meanwhile, the Deputy Director of NAFDAC’s Public Relations Directorate, Mrs Christiana Obiazikwor, defended the agency’s enforcement activities, insisting that officers routinely carried out surveillance, seizures, arrests and the destruction of unregistered and counterfeit products.

She said many of the agency’s operations were not publicised to avoid alerting suspected offenders or triggering confrontations.

“NAFDAC is still at work. We are on the streets. We are in the markets. We are everywhere,” Obiazikwor said.

According to her, journalists were invited to witness the latest operation to demonstrate the agency’s efforts and reassure Nigerians of its commitment to safeguarding public health.

She urged members of the public to report suspected counterfeit production and distribution activities directly to NAFDAC instead of spreading unverified allegations on social media.

“There’s no point going to social media to create fear. Report to NAFDAC, and we’ll do the needful,” she said.

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Also speaking, the Assistant Director and Head of Public Relations for Investigation and Enforcement, Mrs Victoria Jennifer Akudu, described the raid as part of the agency’s routine efforts to uncover illegal manufacturing activities.

She said enforcement officers regularly conducted field operations to confiscate suspected counterfeit products and shut down illegal production facilities.

“This is just a routine activity of our enforcement directorate,” Akudu said.

She further disclosed that the suspected operators had allegedly relocated from an earlier site following enforcement action, prompting the agency to track their activities to the latest location.

“We have confiscated and sealed off the place. They moved to another place. This time around, we passed through the back door. And that is how we are able to get them,” she said.

Akudu urged Nigerians not to panic but to remain vigilant and report credible information about suspected counterfeit products to the agency.

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“I will ask Nigerians not to fear. We are alert, and we are alive. We are doing our statutory function the way it should be,” she added.

NAFDAC reiterated that the operation formed part of its ongoing campaign to remove counterfeit, adulterated and unregistered products from the Nigerian market.

The agency warned that consumers could face serious health risks when beverages were transferred into bottles bearing the labels of established brands without proper quality checks or verification of their contents.