NAFDAC has shut down Aba’s Cemetery market to tackle counterfeit and low-quality wines and beverages in Nigeria.
This action aims to tackle the spread of counterfeit and low-quality wines and beverages throughout Nigeria.
Reportedly, this market has become a central hub for a major cartel involved in producing fake drinks across Africa.
NAFDAC’s recent move marks a significant escalation in addressing this issue, as they have fortified specific areas with iron welding and locked access gates.
This operation involved collaboration with a significant presence of military personnel, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Police Force.
This rare inter-agency teamwork followed a similar raid conducted in December 2023, demonstrating a determined commitment to combatting this problem.
Counterfeiters have engaged in various illicit activities, including producing many adulterated drinks.
These include a wide range of products, like Seaman Schnapps, Hennessy, Four Cousins, Carlo Rossi, and several others, revealing the extent of the issue.
NAFDAC discovered over 240 shops improperly converted into factories, according to a press release from Director General Adeyeye.
These locations were where hazardous products were both manufactured and sold.
The conditions in these shops were extremely unsanitary, utilizing water from unsafe sources and harmful chemicals.
Additionally, they used dirty, recycled bottles and counterfeit packaging materials.
This type of adulteration involves mixing cheaper sugars and starch with other harmful substances, making these products unsuitable for human consumption.
During this extensive operation, NAFDAC destroyed more than 1,500 cartons of counterfeit and substandard products.
The estimated street value of these seized items in 2023 exceeds 750 million naira.
Moreover, the total value of products collected during the operation on December 15, 2024, is around 5 billion naira.