The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has arrested two suspected counterfeiters following the discovery and dismantling of two illegal alcoholic beverage production operations in the Mushin area in Lagos State
The suspects, identified as Uchenna Ekezie and Peter Okparalgbo, were apprehended during separate enforcement operations conducted by the Agency’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate.
Confirming their arrest to newsmen on Monday, July 20, the Director of Investigation and Enforcement at NAFDAC, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, said large quantities of suspected counterfeit alcoholic beverages, including premium local and international brands, were recovered from shops, storage facilities and an illegal production site.
Some of the products seized included Hennessy, William Lawson’s, Don Julio, Martell, Rémy Martin, Flirt Vodka, Lords Gin, Imperial Blue, Gordon’s, Jack Daniel’s, Best Whisky, Eagle Gin, Aman Tequila, The Macallan Scotch Whisky, Casmero Whisky, 501 and Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
Also confiscated were bottles, labels, packaging materials and other equipment used in the illicit production of the fake alcoholic beverages.
According to Iluyomade, the suspects admitted during interrogation to producing the counterfeit alcoholic beverages, adding that all recovered products and production materials had been secured as exhibits while further investigations continue ahead of prosecution.
In another enforcement operation, the Agency uncovered more than 450 cartons of expired salad cream stored at two locations within Oke Arin Market in Lagos.
The expired products, some of which had expired since 2024, were immediately evacuated to prevent them from being sold to unsuspecting consumers.
The Agency also invited the owner of the products for questioning, while several other shops found stocking unregistered and banned products or operating under poor storage conditions were sealed pending further investigations.
