Benjamin Hundeyin, the Lagos State PRO, has announced the arrest of two individuals, Imo Lawrence, 35, and Magnus Nwonka, 42, by the officers of the Ojo Division for possessing counterfeit Drink. During the investigation, the suspects guided the detectives to their hidden, multi-room production site.
This incident comes on the heels of a similar operation by the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration, and Control (NAFDAC) that led to the arrest of a group involved in the production of fake wines, soft drinks, and other consumables in Eziukwu Market, Aba, Abia State. The proliferation of counterfeit drinks in the country has raised concerns.
NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, in Abuja, stated that the agency had spent several weeks gathering intelligence and collating data on these merchants of death’ in collaboration with other security agencies. She revealed that NAFDAC conducted a sting operation in the market to dismantle the criminal activities occurring there.
She noted, “It is worthy of note that this dastard act has been going on for a long time and that they operate like a cartel, threatening anyone who dares to challenge them.”
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According to her, the counterfeiters are involved in the production of a wide range of adulterated products, particularly various types of wine from numerous brands such as Seaman, Schnapps, Henessy, Four Cousins, Carlo Rossi, and others. They also engage in the revalidation of dates for expired products like Peak Milk, powdered milk, Ketchups, Yoghurt, Coca-Cola products, and the packaging of fake and substandard products, which are later sold to unsuspecting consumers.
Due to the extensive operation, the agency raided over 240 shops that had been converted into factories where these harmful products were being produced and sold. #Drink