Two arrested as NAFDAC seals facilities producing fake alcoholic drinks in Rivers

The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed four facilities for allegedly producing fake alcoholic drinks in Rivers.

Speaking on Wednesday while briefing journalists in Port Harcourt, the state capital, Usman Ameh, chief laboratory technologist, investigation and enforcement, NAFDAC, Apapa, Lagos, said the increasing rate of illicit alcohol and canned foods production is alarming.

He said the increase in heart and kidney diseases could be linked to the consumption of fake food and alcoholic drinks.

Ameh said the agency would, therefore, continue to track producers of the fake products.

“We have been able to seal about four facilities in this area and we are going to seal more within the week to make sure we cut down on the illicit production,” NAN quoted him as saying.

“We saw all sorts of fake materials used by these producers to produce fake imported drinks; we saw some labels and chemicals like gin, whisky, brandy, schnapps and strawberry flavour. These are evident proof of their fake production of the goods.

“Other items found are empty bottles, their corks, different labels like imperial blue, red label, gin label, champagne and Hennessy spirit bottles in packs with their labels.

“There were also different brands of cartons for packaging the illicit alcoholic products.

“We also saw all brands of alcoholic bottles in shelves and cartons like Gulder, Legend, Four cousins, gas cylinder and stove for cooking of chemicals as our exhibits.

“We also sealed a store where already produced illegal drinks are sold; the owner of the shop abandoned his shop and jumped a fence on sighting us.”