The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has uncovered greater than 100 sacks of empty alcoholic beverage bottles saved at a residential property in Lagos, elevating suspicions that they’re being collected for the manufacturing of counterfeit drinks.
The bottles have been discovered at a constructing positioned at 322B Meiran Road, Agbado Oke-Odo throughout an enforcement operation carried out by the company’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate.
NAFDAC mentioned the recovered bottles have been destroyed to forestall their doable reuse in the packaging of pretend alcoholic drinks.
An Assistant Director in the directorate, Kunle Ojo, disclosed the event in a video launched by the company on Friday, explaining that the operation adopted intelligence obtained about actions on the property.
According to Ojo, the constructing was located in an remoted residential neighbourhood, the place varied supplies, together with empty alcoholic beverage bottles coated with tarpaulins, had been saved.
The bottles have been of various sizes, with some bearing labels related to alcoholic beverage manufacturers equivalent to Action Bitter and Royal Circle Premium Whiskey.
Ojo mentioned investigators suspected that the bottles have been being gathered for provide to people concerned in the manufacture of counterfeit alcoholic drinks.
He defined that the suspected apply concerned amassing and distributing empty branded containers to counterfeiters, who may refill them with different merchandise and promote them as real alcoholic drinks.
The discovery has renewed considerations concerning the well being risks posed by counterfeit alcohol, significantly when faux merchandise are packaged in containers carrying the labels of recognised manufacturers. Such packaging could make it tough for customers to determine imitation merchandise and distinguish them from real drinks.
NAFDAC condemned the alleged use of a residential constructing for the suspected operation, stating that the enforcement train fashioned a part of its efforts to safeguard public well being and fight the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit merchandise.
The company urged members of the general public to report suspicious actions in their neighbourhoods to the closest NAFDAC workplace, stressing that info offered by residents may help enforcement officers in figuring out and dismantling suspected counterfeiting operations.
