NAFDAC finds building storing empty bottles for fake alcohol in Lagos

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has found a house in Lagos where empty bottles of alcoholic drinks were kept. These bottles were likely meant for making fake drinks.

NAFDAC said its Investigation and Enforcement Directorate discovered over 100 sacks of empty bottles at a house on 322B Meiran Road, Agbado Oke-Odo, Lagos.

The agency destroyed the bottles to stop them from being used in making counterfeit alcoholic drinks, as stated in a NAFDAC release.

In a video shared by the agency on Friday, Kunle Ojo, an Assistant Director in the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, said the operation was based on reliable information about what was happening at that location.

Ojo explained that the house was in a quiet residential area where different materials were stored. "On arriving, we saw different kinds of bottles stacked in this place. These are bottles covered with tarpaulins," he said.

He noted that the bottles came in various sizes and brands of alcoholic beverages. He added that they were likely meant for supply to those making counterfeit drinks. "We have bottles of different sizes, 750cl and all the rest. We have Action Bitter, we have different kinds," Ojo said.

Ojo also pointed out bottles with labels from other alcoholic drinks, including Royal Circle Premium Whiskey. He said these bottles were meant to be given to people involved in making fake alcoholic drinks.

"What these people are planning to do, or what they do here, is to watch the bottle supply to different suspected counterfeiters to be used for another production," he explained.

Ojo criticized using residential buildings for such purposes. He said the agency is focused on protecting public health. "This is a residential area, and this is not acceptable to government. We are here to safeguard the health of the nation," he said.

He urged Nigerians to report any suspicious activities in their areas to the nearest NAFDAC office. This will help the agency fight against the making and distribution of fake products.

"We are calling on all women in Nigeria, please, when you see something taking place in 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," Ojo added.