By Olawale Lamina
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has uncovered a suspected counterfeit alcoholic production factory worth over N500m in Aba, Abia State.
NAFDAC, during its enforcement exercise declared that the factory, located at No. 25 Omenazu Street, was operating under poor hygienic conditions, with suspected fake packaging materials, empty bottles, ethanol and unidentified liquid mixtures
in a statement on Monday vian its X handle, the agency revealed that the suspected operator of the illegal facility took to his heels on sitting enforcement officials, and then left behind a vehicle containing packaging materials bearing the names of Sir Edwards Scotch Whisky and Scottish Hills Whisky.
According to the agency, other items recovered on the spot by its officials include sealing machines, bottle caps, cartons, tanks containing various liquid mixtures and dirty sieves suspected to be part of the production process.
The statement said: “Plastic buckets and 200-litre drums containing ethanol and tree bark immersed in ethanol were also discovered, raising serious concerns about the safety and quality of the products being produced.”
The regulatory agency also revealed that a drum containing approximately 200 litres of liquid was found in the abandoned vehicle, as well as empty bottles and other suspected counterfeit packaging materials, which value was worth over N500m.
The development has heightened concerns unverified quality standards, unhygienic conditions, posing major health challenges associated with alcoholic drinks.
NAFDAC appealed to members of the public to provide useful and credible information on suspected illegal manufacturing activities to support its enforcement efforts.
“NAFDAC urges members of the public to provide credible information on suspected illegal manufacturing activities,” the statement stressed, while making available its call centre numbers, 0800-1-623322 and 0700-1-623322, as well as its email address, reforms@nafdac.gov.ng, for reporting suspected illegal operations.
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