The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has recovered fake liquor worth over N2 billion during a raid in Lagos International Trade Fair Complex.
The agency said the operation was in response to credible intelligence indicating the existence of illegitimate activities in the market, including the production of unsafe drinks.
According to NAFDAC, NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate operatives discovered more than 20 illegal stores hidden in makeshift parking places.
The facilities were allegedly used to counterfeit popular alcoholic brands, revalidate expired or unsafe beverages for resale and store prohibited imported products.
The News Chronicle reports that two suspects were arrested during the operation, while the agency evacuated products worth over N2 billion.
NAFDAC warned that fake and expired alcoholic drinks pose a public health risk and called on Nigerians to report suspected cases of the illicit production and sale of unsafe drugs.
The raid comes after another enforcement operation in early October when the agency recovered alcoholic drinks worth about N300 million in Ile-Epo Market, Lagos.
This followed up on the detection of prohibited alcoholic beverages in sachets and PET bottles with capacities below 200 millilitres.
The successive raids are part of NAFDAC’s campaign to target prohibited liquor and protect consumers against the sale of unsafe drinks.
