The Lagos State Public Prosecutor, Benjamin Hundeyin, has announced the arrest of two people, Imo Lawrence, 35, and Magnus Nwonka, 42, by officers from the Ojo Division for carrying counterfeit beverages. The suspects led the cops to their covert, multi-room production location throughout the investigation.
This incident follows the arrest of a group involved in the fabrication of phony wines, soft drinks, and other consumables in Eziukwu Market, Aba, Abia State, by the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration, and Control (NAFDAC). Concerns have been expressed about the growth of counterfeit drinks in the country.
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, announced in Abuja that the agency had spent several weeks gathering intelligence and collating data on these’merchants of death’ in partnership with other security agencies. She revealed that NAFDAC conducted a sting operation in the market to disrupt illicit operations.
She mentioned,
“It is worthy of note that this dastard act has been going on for a long time and that they operate like a cartel, threatening anyone who dares to challenge them.”
According to her, counterfeiters are involved in the fabrication of a wide range of tainted items, mainly wine from a variety of names such as Seaman, Schnapps, Henessy, Four Cousins, Carlo Rossi, and others. They also revalidate expiration dates for items such as Peak Milk, powdered milk, Ketchups, Yoghurt, and Coca-Cola products, as well as the packaging of false and inferior products, which are then sold to unsuspecting consumers.
The agency seized around 240 establishments that had been turned into factories where these dangerous items were being manufactured and sold as part of the comprehensive operation.
(Credit: Parallel Facts)