The National Agency for Food, Drug, Administration and Control, NAFDAC has uncovered a suspected counterfeit alcoholic drinks production facility at No. 25 Omenazu Street, Aba, Abia State.
Acting on credible intelligence, the agency’s officials discovered the facility operating in unhygienic conditions. The suspected operator reportedly fled upon the team’s arrival, abandoning a vehicle packed with counterfeit packaging materials bearing the names of Sir Edwards Scotch Whisky and Scottish Hills Whisky, empty bottles and a drum containing approximately 200 litres of liquid were found.
An inspection of the facility revealed counterfeit packaging materials, bottle caps, sealing machines, empty bottles, cartons, tanks containing various liquid concoctions and dirty sieves reportedly used in the production process. Plastic buckets and 200-litre drums containing ethanol and tree bark immersed in ethanol were also discovered, raising serious concerns about the safety and quality of the products being produced.
The estimated value of the equipment, materials and facility components is over N500 million.
The Agency urged members of the public to provide credible information on suspected illegal manufacturing activities to the NAFDAC Call Centre on 0800-1-623322 or 0700-1-623322, or email [email protected].
