The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has uncovered more than 100 sacks of empty alcoholic beverage bottles suspected to have been stockpiled for use in producing counterfeit drinks in Lagos.
The bottles were discovered 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 them from being reused in the production and distribution of counterfeit alcoholic beverages.
An Assistant Director in the directorate, Kunle Ojo, disclosed the development in a video released by the agency on Friday, explaining that the operation followed credible intelligence about activities at the location.
According to Ojo, the building was situated in a secluded residential area where different materials, including large quantities of empty alcoholic beverage bottles, were being stored under tarpaulins.
“On arriving, we saw different kinds of bottles stacked in this place. These are bottles covered with tarpaulins,” he said.
He explained that the bottles came in different sizes and brands, raising suspicions that they were being stockpiled to supply individuals involved in the production of counterfeit alcoholic drinks.
“We have bottles of different sizes, 750cl and all the rest. We have Action Bitter, we have different kinds,” Ojo stated.
He also identified bottles bearing labels associated with other alcoholic beverages, including Royal Circle Premium Whiskey.
The NAFDAC official alleged that the bottles were being stockpiled for distribution to suspected counterfeiters who could reuse them to package illicitly produced alcoholic beverages.
“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,” he said.
Ojo condemned the use of residential buildings for activities suspected to be linked to counterfeiting, stressing that the agency was committed to protecting public health and preventing the circulation of fake 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.
He called on residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities in their neighbourhoods to the nearest NAFDAC office to help the agency identify and disrupt the production and distribution of counterfeit products.
“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,” Ojo urged Nigerians.
