The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered a suspected counterfeit alcoholic drinks factory valued at over ₦500m in Aba, Abia State. The facility, located at No. 25 Omenazu Street, was allegedly operating under unhygienic conditions, with suspected fake packaging materials and unidentified liquid mixtures discovered during the operation.
In a statement published on its X handle on Monday, the agency said the suspected operator fled when its officials arrived, abandoning a vehicle containing packaging materials bearing the names of Sir Edwards Scotch Whisky and Scottish Hills Whisky.
NAFDAC said its officials recovered sealing machines, bottle caps, cartons, tanks containing various liquid mixtures and dirty sieves suspected to have been used in production. They also discovered plastic buckets and 200-litre drums containing ethanol, including drums with tree bark immersed in the substance.
The agency said the findings raised concerns about the safety and quality of the alcoholic drinks allegedly produced at the facility. It added that a drum containing approximately 200 litres of liquid was found in the abandoned vehicle alongside empty bottles and other suspected counterfeit packaging materials.
NAFDAC estimated the value of the recovered equipment, materials and other components at over ₦500m. However, the agency did not disclose whether any arrests had been made in connection with the discovery.
The discovery has raised concerns about potential health risks from alcoholic drinks allegedly manufactured under unhygienic conditions and without verified quality standards. NAFDAC urged members of the public to provide credible information about suspected illegal manufacturing activities to support its enforcement efforts.
The agency provided its call centre numbers, 0800-1-623322 and 0700-1-623322, and the email address reforms@nafdac.gov.ng for reporting suspected illegal operations. Investigations and any further enforcement action relating to the facility were not detailed in the statement.
