The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it has for the second time, shutdown Aba Cemetery Market in Abia State for sale of fake bottles of wines and beverages.
In a statement signed by its Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday – yesterday, January 28 – NAFDAC said the cemetery market is regarded as the most dreaded and hitherto safe haven for the largest cartel ring for the manufacture of fake wines and beverages in Africa.
She said NAFDAC’s decisive move was aimed at curbing the circulation of fake and substandard bottles of wine and beverages in Nigeria.
The operation was carried out in conjunction with the military, Department of State Security (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the statement added.
Some of the activities of the counterfeiters include the manufacturing of all kinds of adulterated products, especially bottles of wine of different brands, including Seaman Schnapps, Henessy, Carlo Rossi, Jenney, Chelsea London Dry Gin, Schnapp Dry Gin, McDowells, and Black labels.
Others are Gordons, Martell, Campari, Smirnoff ice, Eva Non-Alcoholic Drink, Evra Non-Alcoholic Drink, Cartel and others.
The NAFDAC boss said in the extensive operation, the agency raided over 240 shops which turned factories where harmful products were being produced and marketed.
“The shops turned factories are very filthy, using water from very unhygienic sources, harmful chemicals, saccharin, colouring, dirty recycled bottles and cloned packaging materials of other brands.
“The adulteration of alcoholic beverages by criminal elements in the country is done by mixing cheaper sources of sugar and starch, besides grapes or fruit, and other harmful chemicals unsuitable for human consumption.
“Over 1,500 cartons of the fake and substandard products were destroyed during the operation.
“The street value of the confiscated and destroyed fake products in 2023 is estimated at over N750,000,000.
“The estimated value of products mopped up during the December 15, 2024, operation is N5 billion.
“The products being revalidated and mopped up include: Soft and carbonated drinks such as Fanta, Coca Cola, Schweppes, Lacasera, Sprite, Hollandia Yoghurt, Super Commando Energy Drink, Feyrouz and Amstel Malta.
“Aside from drinks, there are fake home beverages such as: Peak Sachet Milk, Cowbell Sachet Milk, Peak Chocolate Drink, Miksi Sachet Milk, Cadbury Chocolate Drink and Ovaltine,” Adeyeye said.
She said that prior to the evacuation of these products, they were being produced in the market and neatly packaged and sold to unsuspecting consumers.
She commended Governor Alex Otti of Abia State for making the project “Operation Clean UP Aba” possible, explaining that the Mayor of Aba South and the interim management committee of the market and other stakeholders had worked assiduously with NAFDAC on the project, leading to the discovery of another three major warehouses.
According to the statement, the warehouses stockpiled expired HOLLANDIA YOGHURT for revalidation on the 22nd of January 2025.
Adeyeye expressed NAFDAC’s determination to safeguard the health of the nation and enjoins the general public to report any suspected fake and substandard regulated product to the agency’s nearest office. (NAN)
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