LAGOS, Nigeria – The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of two men involved in the production of counterfeit beverages in the Ojo area of Lagos State, just as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, announced a crackdown on counterfeit products across the country.
The arrest, as confirmed by the Lagos State Police spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, highlights a significant crackdown on the production and distribution of fake drinks, a growing concern in the region.
SP Hundeyin, in his statement released on X (platform), said, “Officers of Ojo Division today arrested the duo of Imo Lawrence ‘m’ aged 35 and Magnus Nwonka ‘m’ aged 42 in possession of fake drinks. In the course of investigation, the suspects led detectives to their inconspicuous, multi-room ‘factory.’ Investigation is ongoing.”
Officers of Ojo Division today arrested the duo of Imo Lawrence ‘m’ aged 35 and Magnus Nwonka ‘m’ aged 42 in possession of fake drinks.
In the course of investigation, the suspects led detectives to their inconspicuous, multi-room ‘factory.’
Investigation is ongoing. pic.twitter.com/dWHH5lYnip
— SP Benjamin Hundeyin (@BenHundeyin) December 20, 2023
In a related development, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, announced this week that it has destroyed 135 truckloads of counterfeit and expired products, valued at approximately N16 billion.
This large-scale destruction reflects the agency’s ongoing efforts to combat the circulation of unsafe and unregulated products in the market.
The NAFDAC Inspection and Enforcement Directorate conducted raids across nine states in the southeast and south-south regions, recovering counterfeit Diageo products worth over N38 million.
According to NAFDAC’s Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, joint inspections, seizures, and destruction of banned or unregistered products have been a priority for the directorate.
Prof. Adeyeye disclosed that in Lagos State and Abuja alone, operations led to the seizure of counterfeited products worth over N200 million.
Furthermore, NAFDAC shut down the Eziukwu Market (Cemetery Market) in Aba, Abia State, where a variety of fake beverages, including wines and soft drinks, valued at over N750 million, were confiscated and destroyed.
During a media parley, Prof. Adeyeye explained that the agency acted on an intelligent tip-off, which led to several weeks of intelligence gathering and collaboration with other security agencies.
The sting operation in the Eziukwu Market was a direct response to the criminal operations detected.
The NAFDAC boss highlighted the long-standing nature of these illegal activities, describing them as operating like a cartel.
The counterfeiters have been manufacturing a wide range of adulterated products, including various brands of wine and spirits like Seaman Schnapps, Hennessy, Four Cousins, Carlo Rossi, and others.
As a result of these operations, ten people were arrested and are expected to be charged in court following a thorough investigation. This concerted effort by Lagos Police and NAFDAC underscores the seriousness with which authorities are addressing the issue of counterfeit and unsafe products in Nigeria, aiming to protect consumers and uphold public health standards.
