The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has seized counterfeit alcoholic beverage packaging supplies worth greater than N200 million throughout a raid on five outlets at Old Court Road Market in Aba, Abia State.
The operation kinds a part of the company’s nationwide crackdown on counterfeit and substandard merchandise, in line with a press release revealed on its official X account.
NAFDAC stated its Investigation and Enforcement operatives acted on credible intelligence to raid the outlets suspected of manufacturing and supplying counterfeit packaging supplies for well-liked alcoholic beverage manufacturers and different shopper merchandise.
Counterfeit supplies uncovered
The company stated the operation led to the invention and seizure of counterfeit packaging supplies valued at greater than N200 million.
- “The operation uncovered counterfeit labels, corks, packs and outer packaging materials bearing the names of several brands, including Jameson, Glenfiddich, Four Cousins, Lord’s Dry Gin, Imperial Blue, Goya Oil, Chelsea, Squadron and Seaman’s Aromatic Schnapps,” the assertion stated.
NAFDAC disclosed that its operatives encountered threats and resistance from merchants throughout the train, making it troublesome to evacuate the seized supplies.
The homeowners of the five outlets had been reportedly absent throughout the raid. The company stated the premises had been subsequently sealed to forestall interference with the gadgets remaining inside.
NAFDAC additionally invited the market union chairman, who pledged to assist safe the sealed premises and help the company in figuring out and presenting the store homeowners.
Nationwide crackdown intensifies
The Aba operation follows a sequence of enforcement actions by NAFDAC concentrating on counterfeit alcoholic drinks and different doubtlessly dangerous shopper merchandise throughout the nation.
On Monday, the agency seized counterfeit alcoholic beverages valued at more than N2 billion throughout a raid on the International Trade Fair Complex in Lagos.
NAFDAC stated the operation adopted intelligence studies that uncovered unlawful actions throughout the complicated, the place operatives found greater than 20 unlawful shops hid in makeshift parking areas.
According to the company, suspects had been allegedly concerned in mixing and counterfeiting well-liked alcoholic beverage manufacturers, revalidating expired and unsafe drinks for resale, and stockpiling banned imported merchandise.
Two suspects had been arrested throughout the operation, whereas NAFDAC operatives evacuated the seized merchandise from the premises.
The company warned that the circulation of counterfeit, expired and unsafe alcoholic drinks poses dangers to public well being. It urged Nigerians to stay vigilant and report suspected instances of unlawful manufacturing, product revalidation and gross sales.
NAFDAC targets banned sachet alcohol
Earlier in October, NAFDAC seized alcoholic beverages estimated at N300 million throughout enforcement operations at Ile-Epo Market in Lagos State.
The operation focused alcoholic drinks packaged in sachets and PET bottles under 200 millilitres, which the company stated had been topic to its enforcement restrictions.
NAFDAC stated enforcement groups apprehended distributors and retailers of the affected merchandise as a part of a nationwide effort to curb their manufacturing, distribution and sale.
The newest seizures in Aba and Lagos underscore the company’s continued efforts to disrupt the provision chains for counterfeit alcoholic drinks and different merchandise that might endanger shoppers.
