The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has intercepted counterfeiters involved in the production of variety of beverages including wines, soft drinks and consumables in Eziukwu Market (Cemetery Market) Aba, Abia State.
Following an intelligent tip off, NAFDAC carried out several weeks of intelligence gathering and collation of data on the activities of this merchants of death. In collaboration with other security agencies, NAFDAC carried out a sting operation in the market to burst the criminal operations taking place there.
Some of the nefarious activities of the counterfeiters included the manufacturing of all kinds of adulterated products especially different kinds of wine from a wide variety of brands ranging from Seaman Schnapps, Henessy, Four Cousins, Carlo Rossi, Jenney, Chelsea London Dry Gin, Schnapp Dry Gin, McDowells, Black Labels, Gordons, Martell, Campari, Smirnoff ice, Eva Non-Alcoholic Drink, Evra Non-Alcoholic Drink, Cartel, and others.
There is also date revalidation for expired products like Peak milk, Powdered milk, Ketchups, Yoghurt, Coca Cola products, packaging of fake and substandard products, which are later sold to unsuspecting members of the public for consumption.
Because of the extensive operation, the agency raided over 240 shops- turned factories where the 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 of cheaper sources of sugar and starch besides grapes or fruit, among other harmful chemicals unsuitable for human consumption.
Over 1500 cartons of the fake and substandard products were destroyed during the operation while 300 hundred cartons were evacuated to NAFDAC warehouse.
The street value of the confiscated and destroyed fake products is estimated at over seven hundred and fifty million naira only. (N750,000,000).
Ten people were arrested on arrival at the scene of the crime and will be charged to court after thorough investigation.