Health Risk Alert: NAFDAC Shuts Down 250 Factories Making Fake Beverages in Abia

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For the second time in two years, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed Aba’s Cemetery Market in Abia State over the production and sale of adulterated wines, Fanta, Peak and Cowbell milk, along with other counterfeit beverages.

Recognized as a hub for Africa’s largest counterfeit wine and beverage cartel, the market was raided on December 15, 2024, with authorities seizing fake products valued at approximately N5 billion.

In a statement sent to PUNCH Healthwise on Tuesday, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, emphasized that shutting down the market—following its initial closure in December 2023—was a critical step in eliminating substandard and fake beverages from circulation.

NAFDAC’s crackdown aligns with its ongoing fight against the spread of falsified and substandard medicines nationwide. The agency’s latest action also follows an investigation by PUNCH Healthwise, which exposed the surge of fake and unregistered Seretide inhalers in Nigeria after the departure of British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline.

According to Adeyeye, the operation, carried out in collaboration with the military, Nigeria Police, and Department of State Services (DSS), marked an unprecedented level of inter-agency coordination. She described it as the most extensive enforcement effort in the market’s history, noting that specific zones remain barricaded with iron-welded barriers and locked gates.

During the raid, over 240 shops—transformed into illegal factories—were searched, leading to the confiscation of adulterated products, including Eva Non-Alcoholic Drink, Seaman Schnapps, Hennessy, Amstel Malt, as well as counterfeit versions of Peak Sachet Milk, Cowbell Sachet Milk, and Peak Chocolate Drink.

The statement detailed the counterfeit operations, revealing that criminal networks were manufacturing and selling fake versions of well-known alcoholic brands such as Seaman Schnapps, Hennessy, Four Cousins, Carlo Rossi, Jenney, Chelsea London Dry Gin, McDowells, Black Label, Gordon’s, Martell, Campari, and Smirnoff Ice. Additionally, fake non-alcoholic drinks such as Eva Non-Alcoholic Drink, Evra Non-Alcoholic Drink, and Cartel were also being produced.

“As a result of the large-scale raid, NAFDAC uncovered over 240 makeshift factories where these harmful products were being manufactured and distributed,” the statement read.

“These illegal factories operated in unsanitary conditions, using contaminated water, hazardous chemicals, saccharin, artificial coloring, and repurposed dirty bottles with cloned packaging materials from legitimate brands. The adulteration of alcoholic beverages involved mixing cheaper sugar and starch sources—rather than fruits or grapes—alongside other dangerous substances unfit for human consumption.”

Adeyeye further disclosed that over 1,500 cartons of fake and substandard products were destroyed in the raid.

She noted that while the estimated street value of the seized counterfeit products in 2023 was N750 million, the latest haul from the December 15, 2024, operation reached a staggering N5 billion.

Among the counterfeit goods confiscated and destroyed were soft drinks and carbonated beverages, including Fanta, Coca-Cola, Schweppes, Lacasera, Sprite, Hollandia Yoghurt, Super Commando Energy Drink, Fayrouz, and Amstel Malta. Fake versions of popular household beverages such as Peak Sachet Milk, Cowbell Sachet Milk, Peak Chocolate Drink, Miksi Sachet Milk, Cadbury Chocolate Drink, and Ovaltine were also seized.

“Before NAFDAC intervened, these counterfeit products were being manufactured, packaged, and sold to unsuspecting consumers,” Adeyeye stated.

She expressed gratitude to Abia State Governor Alex Otti for his support of the “Operation Clean Up Aba” initiative.

NAFDAC also acknowledged the cooperation of the Mayor of Aba South, the interim management committee of Cemetery Market, and other key stakeholders, which led to the recent discovery of three major warehouses stockpiling expired Hollandia Yoghurt for illegal revalidation on January 22, 2025.

Reaffirming the agency’s commitment to safeguarding public health, NAFDAC urged the public to report any suspected counterfeit or substandard regulated products to the nearest NAFDAC office.

Punch

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