The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has uncovered a residential building where empty bottles of assorted alcoholic beverages were stored for suspected use in counterfeiting popular brands.
Over 100 sacks of empty bottles were discovered and destroyed to prevent their reuse in the production of counterfeit alcoholic drinks.
An Assistant Director in the agency’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, Kunle Ojo, disclosed this in a video recorded during an enforcement operation at 322B Meiran Road, Agbado.
Ojo said the operation followed credible intelligence about suspected illicit activities at the location, which he described as a secluded residential area.
He said officials found different brands and sizes of alcoholic beverages bottles, including products bearing the names of Royal Circle premium whisky, Action Bitters and Smirnoff, among others.
According to him, the products were allegedly being supplied to suspected counterfeiters for use in further production.
“We have credible intelligence that in this particular area, a very secluded area, where a lot of nefarious activities is taking place here. And that is why we are here this afternoon,” Ojo said.
He added that the discovery of the products in a residential neighbourhood raised concerns about the activities taking place at the facility.
“And like I said at the other side, this is residential area. And this is not acceptable to government, and we are here to safeguard the health of the nation,” he said.
The NAFDAC official urged Nigerians to report suspected cases of counterfeit products and other illicit activities to the agency’s offices.
“We are calling on all men and all women in Nigeria, please, when you see something taking place at 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 said.
