NAFDAC Uncovers Residential Building Stockpiling Over 100 Sacks Of Empty Alcohol Bottles For Suspected Counterfeiting

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered a residential building in Lagos where empty bottles of various alcoholic beverage brands were allegedly stockpiled for supply to suspected counterfeiters.

The agency’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate discovered the bottles at 322B Meiran Road, Agbado Oke Odo, Lagos, following what it described as credible intelligence.

In a video shared on NAFDAC’s X handle on Friday, the agency disclosed that more than 100 sacks of empty bottles were found at the location and subsequently destroyed to prevent their reuse in the production of counterfeit alcoholic drinks.

Narrating the operation, the Assistant Director of the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, Mr Kunle Ojo, said the team moved in after receiving intelligence about suspicious activities in the secluded area.

“On getting on arriving, we saw different kinds of bottles stacked in this place. These are bottles covered with tarpaulins,” Ojo said.

He explained that the premises contained large quantities of empty bottles of different sizes and brands, allegedly awaiting distribution to individuals involved in the production of counterfeit alcoholic beverages.

According to him, the bottles included those bearing the labels of Action Bitter, Royal Circle Premium Whisky and other alcoholic drink brands.

“We have a lot of bottles covered with tarpaulins here, now ready to be supplied to people that are counterfeiting,” he said.

Ojo added that the ù were arranged in different sections of the premises, with several varieties stored together.

He alleged that the operators intended to supply the empty bottles to suspected counterfeiters for reuse in producing and packaging alcoholic drinks.

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

The NAFDAC official expressed concern that the activity was taking place within a residential neighbourhood, describing the practice as unacceptable.

He said the agency’s intervention was aimed at protecting public health and preventing the circulation of counterfeit alcoholic beverages.

“And this is not acceptable to government. And we are here to safeguard the health of the nation,” Ojo stated.

He urged Nigerians to report suspicious activities in their neighbourhoods to the nearest NAFDAC office to enable the agency to investigate and take appropriate action.

“We are calling on 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,” he said.

The agency’s operation comes amid ongoing efforts to curb the circulation of fake and substandard products that pose risks to consumers’ health.

NAFDAC has repeatedly warned about the dangers associated with counterfeit alcoholic drinks, which may contain harmful substances or be produced under unsafe conditions.