Abuja, Jan. 28, 2025 – The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shut the Cemetery market in Aba in the bid curb circulation of fake and substandard wine and beverages in Nigeria.
NAFDAC, in a statement on Tuesday, described the market as the most dreaded market for fake wines and beverages in Africa.
It also described it as a safe haven for the largest cartel ring in the manufacture of fake drugs in the continent.
NAFDAC said the closure of the market was the most audacious since the history of the market with specific zones barricaded with iron welding and access gates locked till date.
“The operation carried out in conjunction with a large contingency of the military, DSS and Nigeria Police, in a rare display of inter-agency cooperation, was a follow up to a similar raid that was carried out in December 2023.
“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 the following:
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.
“As a consequence 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,” it said.
NAFDAC said over 1500 cartons of the fake and substandard products were destroyed during the operation.
It estimated the street value of the confiscated and destroyed fake products in 2023 at over seven hundred and fifty million naira only. (N750,000,000).
“The estimated value of products mopped up during the December 15, 2024, operation is five billion naira. The products being revalidated and mopped up include:
Soft and carbonated drinks such as Fanta, Coca Cola
Schweppes, Lacasera, Sprite, Hollandia Yoghurt
Super Commando Energy Drink, Feyrouz and Amstel Malta.
Aside from drinks, notable fake home use beverages such as:
Peak Sachet Milk, Cowbell Sachet Milk, Peak Chocolate Drink
Miksi Sachet Milk, Cadbury Chocolate Drink and Ovaltine adulterated versions.
“Prior to the evacuation of the products by NAFDAC, they were being produced in the market and neatly packaged and sold to unsuspecting consumers,” it added. (GBN)
