The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered a suspected counterfeit alcoholic drinks production facility at No. 25 Omenazu Street, Aba, Abia State, following an intelligence-led operation.

According to the agency, officials who visited the facility discovered an unhygienic production environment containing suspected counterfeit packaging materials, empty bottles, sealing machines and containers filled with various liquid mixtures.

The suspected operator reportedly fled upon the arrival of the NAFDAC team, abandoning a vehicle containing packaging materials bearing the names of Sir Edwards Scotch Whisky and Scottish Hills Whisky, alongside empty bottles and a drum containing approximately 200 litres of liquid.

A further inspection of the premises revealed additional packaging materials, bottle caps, sealing machines, cartons, tanks containing different liquid concoctions and dirty sieves reportedly used in the production process.

Officials also discovered plastic buckets and 200-litre drums containing ethanol, as well as tree bark immersed in ethanol. The findings have raised concerns about the safety, quality and authenticity of alcoholic drinks potentially produced at the facility.

NAFDAC estimates the value of the equipment, materials and facility components recovered at over ₦500 million.

The discovery highlights the public health risks associated with suspected illegal alcoholic beverage production, particularly where manufacturing takes place under unhygienic conditions and the ingredients and production processes have not been verified.

Counterfeit alcoholic beverages pose potential health risks to consumers, especially when their ingredients, alcohol content and production standards are unknown. Consumers are therefore advised to purchase alcoholic drinks from reputable outlets and remain alert to suspicious packaging and product labelling.

NAFDAC has urged members of the public to provide credible information about suspected illegal manufacturing activities to support its enforcement efforts.

The agency provided the following contact channels for reporting such activities:

Call Centre: 0800-1-623322 or 0700-1-623322

Email: reforms@nafdac.gov.ng

The agency’s findings underscore the need for continued vigilance against suspected counterfeit products and for consumers to report suspicious manufacturing and distribution activities to the relevant authorities.