Lagos: NAFDAC uncovers suspected fake drinks factory, arrests 2

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered a suspected counterfeit drinks production facility at Zamfara Plaza, BBA Trade Fair Complex, Lagos State, with two men arrested over their alleged involvement in the operation.

The facility was allegedly being used to relabel expired beverages, including Bullet Energy Drink, Don Julio tequila and Jameson whiskey, before they were circulated for sale to unsuspecting consumers.

NAFDAC disclosed the discovery in a video shared on its official X account on Tuesday, showing operatives inspecting the premises and examining drinks and packaging materials found at the location.

The agency said the two suspects were arrested while allegedly revalidating expired energy drinks and popular wine and whisky brands. Their identities had not been disclosed as of the time of filing this report.

The discovery has raised concerns about the circulation of expired and potentially unsafe beverages, particularly products that consumers may purchase from bars, nightclubs and other retail outlets without knowing that their expiry labels have allegedly been altered.

In the video, NAFDAC operatives were seen examining packs of drinks, bottles and other materials at the facility as they sought to establish the nature and extent of the alleged operation.

One of the officers expressed concern over the suspected relabelling of Bullet Energy Drink, describing it as a product consumed by millions of Nigerians.

“This is the energy drink that millions of Nigerians take every day. What are they doing? They are revalidating it here, removing the expired labels,” the operative said.

The footage showed packs of energy drinks, some allegedly relabelled and others bearing their original labels, piled together inside the facility.

Various bottles, chemicals and packaging materials were also visible around the premises, although the agency did not provide further details about the specific roles of the materials in the alleged operation.

Suspects allegedly targeted bars, nightclubs

Explaining how the alleged distribution network operated, one of the NAFDAC operatives claimed that the suspects dealt with bar managers and operators of nightclubs to move the products into the market.

“They go to bars and various nightclubs; they liaise with the bar managers and sell these to them for counterfeiting,” the operative said.

The allegation suggests that the beverages may have been intended for distribution through hospitality and entertainment outlets where customers might not routinely inspect expiry dates or product labels before consumption.

However, the agency did not disclose the names of any bars, nightclubs or businesses allegedly linked to the operation. It also did not provide details of the quantities of drinks recovered or the period during which the suspected activity had been taking place.

The identities of the two arrested men were also not released in the statement accompanying the video.

NAFDAC operatives express concern

During the inspection, one of the operatives expressed frustration over criticism of the agency’s efforts to tackle counterfeit products, arguing that the discovery demonstrated the challenges facing its enforcement teams.

“They want to kill Nigerians. At the end of the day, they will say NAFDAC is not working. This is just one out of the millions of these,” the operative said.

The comment reflected the agency’s concern about the potential consequences of expired drinks being presented for sale as products still within their approved shelf life.

Relabelling an expired beverage can prevent consumers from making informed decisions about what they purchase and consume. The risks depend on the product, its storage conditions and how long it has been expired, but the alleged practice raises significant consumer protection concerns.

NAFDAC had yet to announce further details about the investigation, including whether laboratory tests would be conducted on the recovered products or whether additional arrests were expected.

The agency is expected to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged operation and determine the appropriate regulatory or legal action against those found responsible.

Previous enforcement operations in Lagos

The latest discovery comes amid other enforcement activities by NAFDAC targeting the distribution and sale of alcoholic beverages in Lagos State.

The agency had previously reported seizing alcoholic drinks valued at an estimated N300 million during enforcement operations involving products packaged in sachets and PET bottles with capacities below 200 millilitres.

According to the report, some distributors and retailers allegedly involved in selling the prohibited products were also arrested.

The enforcement operations covered Ile-Epo Market, Ojuwoye Market in Mushin and Oke-Arin Market on Lagos Island.

The seizures formed part of the agency’s efforts to enforce regulations governing the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages and remove prohibited products from circulation.

Although the earlier operations concerned alcoholic beverages in restricted packaging, the latest discovery involves allegations that expired drinks were being relabelled for possible resale.

Both cases highlight the challenges facing regulators as they work to prevent non-compliant products from reaching consumers through markets and retail outlets.

Consumer safety concerns

The suspected factory’s alleged activities have renewed concerns about the need for vigilance in the beverage supply chain, particularly where products are sold through bars, nightclubs and other outlets.

Consumers may find it difficult to identify drinks whose expiry information has been altered, making effective inspection and enforcement important in preventing the circulation of potentially unsafe products.

NAFDAC’s investigation will be crucial in determining the quantity of beverages involved, the extent of the alleged distribution network and whether other individuals or businesses participated in the operation.

The agency has not yet provided a final account of the findings or disclosed the identities of the arrested suspects. The allegations against them therefore remain subject to investigation.