NAFDAC Discovers Stockpile in Lagos

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered a residential building in Lagos where more than 100 sacks of empty alcoholic beverage bottles were allegedly stored for possible use in producing counterfeit drinks.

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 about activities at the location.

NAFDAC said the bottles were destroyed to prevent their reuse in the production and packaging of counterfeit alcoholic beverages.

Bottles of Different Brands Recovered

Speaking in a video released by the agency on Friday, an Assistant Director in its Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, Kunle Ojo, said officers found different sizes and brands of bottles covered with tarpaulins inside the building.

He identified bottles bearing labels associated with brands including Action Bitter and Royal Circle Premium Whiskey.

According to Ojo, the bottles were suspected to have been stockpiled for distribution to people involved in counterfeiting alcoholic drinks.

He said the agency’s findings suggested that the bottles could be supplied to suspected counterfeiters for reuse in producing and packaging alcoholic beverages.

Agency Raises Public Health Concerns

Ojo criticised the use of a residential property to store materials suspected of being linked to counterfeit beverage production, describing the activity as unacceptable.

The agency said the operation formed part of its efforts to prevent the circulation of falsified products and protect public health.

NAFDAC urged residents to report suspicious activities in their neighbourhoods to the nearest agency office to support efforts to identify and disrupt counterfeit production networks.

No Arrests Announced

As of the time of reporting, NAFDAC had not publicly announced any arrests in connection with the discovery or identified the people responsible for storing the bottles.

The agency also did not disclose the date of the operation or announce any monetary value for the recovered materials.

Investigations and any further enforcement action will be needed to establish who owned the bottles and whether they were supplied to counterfeit beverage producers.