The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has arrested two suspected counterfeiters following the discovery and dismantling of illegal alcoholic beverage production operations in the Mushin area of Lagos State.
The suspects, identified as Uchenna Ekezie and Peter Okparalgbo, were apprehended during separate enforcement operations carried out by the agency’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate.
Speaking with journalists on Monday, the Director of Investigation and Enforcement at NAFDAC, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, said the operations led to the recovery of large quantities of suspected counterfeit alcoholic beverages, including both local and international premium brands.
Products seized during the raid included Hennessy, William Lawson’s, Don Julio, Martell, Rémy Martin, Flirt Vodka, Lords Gin, Imperial Blue, Gordon’s, Jack Daniel’s, Best Whisky, Eagle Gin, Aman Tequila, The Macallan Scotch Whisky, Casmero Whisky, 501 and Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
NAFDAC also recovered bottles, labels, packaging materials and other equipment allegedly used in the production and packaging of the fake alcoholic beverages.
According to Iluyomade, the suspects confessed during interrogation to producing the counterfeit products. He added that all recovered items had been secured as exhibits while investigations continue ahead of prosecution.
In a related operation, NAFDAC uncovered more than 450 cartons of expired salad cream stored at two locations within Oke Arin Market in Lagos.
The agency said some of the products had expired since 2024 and were immediately evacuated to prevent them from being sold to unsuspecting consumers.
NAFDAC further disclosed that the owner of the expired products had been invited for questioning, while several other shops found stocking unregistered and banned products or operating under poor storage conditions were sealed pending further investigations.
