Lagos Counterfeit Alcohol Ring Busted by NAFDAC

In a significant crackdown on counterfeiters, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has apprehended two individuals suspected of producing and distributing fake alcoholic beverages in Lagos. The operation, which was carried out by the Agency's Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, led to the seizure of large quantities of counterfeit premium local and international brands, including Hennessy, William Lawson's, and Jack Daniel's, among others. According to Dr. Martins Iluyomade, the Director of Investigation and Enforcement at NAFDAC, the suspects, identified as Uchenna Ekezie and Peter Okparalgbo, confessed to producing the counterfeit beverages during interrogation. The Agency also recovered bottles, labels, and packaging materials used in the production of the fake beverages. In a separate operation, NAFDAC discovered over 450 cartons of expired salad cream stored in two locations within Oke Arin Market in Lagos. The products, which had expired as far back as 2024, were immediately evacuated to prevent them from being sold to unsuspecting consumers. Furthermore, the Agency sealed several shops found stocking unregistered and banned products or operating under poor storage conditions. Dr. Iluyomade reaffirmed NAFDAC's commitment to protecting public health by ensuring that only safe and regulated products are available to consumers. He also disclosed that one Mr. Chidera Chukwuka was recently convicted by the Federal High Court, Lagos, on a six-count charge related to the production and distribution of counterfeit products. The court imposed a fine of ₦1.65 million on the convict and ordered the forfeiture of all offending products to NAFDAC for destruction. The director urged members of the public to purchase regulated products only from reputable outlets and report suspicious products or activities to the nearest NAFDAC office.