NAFDAC shuts Aba market, consficates fake food, beverages

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By Edith Nwovo

The National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has shut down the popular Cemetery Market in Aba, for the second time.

The agency said the market is the most dreaded and hitherto safe haven for the largest cartel for the manufacture of fake wines and beverages in Africa.

In a statement, Director-General Mojisola Adeyeye says the market was shut down to stop the circulation of fake and substandard wine and beverages.

The statement signed by NAFDAC’s Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, says the raid and closure of the market was achieved through the combined effort of large contingency of the military, DSS and Nigeria Police, in a rare display of inter-agency cooperation.

It further states that the shutdown was the second in the last two years and the purpose was to further clean up the market of fake and unwholesome products particularly beverages that are being produced and distributed in the market to unsuspected consumers.

The Agency said that over 240 shops turned factories where the harmful products were being produced and marketed were raided.

“These shops turned factories are very filthy. They were using water from very unhygienic sources, harmful chemicals, saccharin, colouring, dirty recycled bottles and cloned packaging materials of other brands.

“The adulteration of the alcoholic beverages were done by mixing of cheaper sources of sugar and starch besides grapes or fruit, among other harmful chemicals unsuitable for human consumption.”

NAFDAC further alleged that 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 Seaman Schnapps, Henessey, 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.

The professor further said over 1,500 cartons of the fake and substandard products were destroyed during the operation and the street value of the confiscated and destroyed fake products in 2023 was estimated at over N750 million while the estimated value of products mopped up during the December 15, 2024, operation was N5billion.

The Agency said it also discovered some products that were being revalidated which include soft and carbonated drinks such as Fanta, Coca Cola, Schweppes, Lacasera, Sprite, Hollandia Yoghurt. Super Commando Energy Drink, Farouz and Amstel Malta.

It said that aside the 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, were also confiscated.

NAFDAC appreciated the support it received from the Abia state government, adding that
The Mayor of Aba South and the Interim Management Committee of the market and other stakeholders had worked assiduously with NAFDAC on the project which also led to another discovery of three major warehouses stockpiling expired Hollandia Yoghurt for revalidation.

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