NAFDAC Discovers Over 100 Sacks of Alcohol Bottles in Lagos Building Over Counterfeit Drink Suspicions

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has discovered more than 100 sacks of empty alcoholic beverage bottles in a residential building in Lagos, raising suspicions that they could be reused to produce counterfeit drinks.

The agency said its Investigation and Enforcement Directorate uncovered the bottles at 322B Meiran Road, Agbado Oke-Odo, following what it described as credible intelligence about activities at the location.

In a video released by NAFDAC on Friday, an Assistant Director in the directorate, Kunle Ojo, said officers found different types and sizes of bottles stored inside the building, with some covered by tarpaulins.

“On arriving, we saw different kinds of bottles stacked in this place. These are bottles covered with tarpaulins,” Ojo said.

He identified bottles associated with several alcoholic beverage brands, including Action Bitter and Royal Circle Premium Whiskey. According to him, the bottles were suspected to have been stockpiled for supply to people involved in the production of counterfeit alcoholic drinks.

Ojo said the suspected activity involved supplying used bottles to counterfeiters for reuse in the production of other alcoholic beverages. However, the agency’s statement did not establish that counterfeit drinks had already been produced at the location.

NAFDAC subsequently destroyed the recovered bottles to prevent their possible reuse. Ojo condemned the storage of such materials in a residential neighbourhood, saying the agency’s intervention was aimed at protecting public health.

He urged Nigerians to report suspicious activities in their communities to the nearest NAFDAC office, stressing that public cooperation could help the agency combat the production and distribution of counterfeit products.