Oluwatobi Adu 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it has seized suspected counterfeit alcoholic beverages and other prohibited products worth more than ₦2 billion during an enforcement operation at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex.
The agency said the operation was conducted on Tuesday by operatives of its Investigation and Enforcement Directorate following intelligence about suspected illegal activities within the commercial complex.
According to NAFDAC, operatives discovered more than 20 makeshift stores in parking areas allegedly used to produce and store counterfeit alcoholic drinks, revalidate expired beverages for resale and stock prohibited imported products.
A senior official of the agency’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate said the operation had disrupted a suspected network involved in distributing unsafe alcoholic beverages. “This raid has stopped a dangerous network that was flooding the market with unsafe and counterfeit alcoholic drinks, and we will continue to protect every Nigerian consumer from such threats,” the official said.
NAFDAC said two suspects were arrested during the operation, while products valued at more than ₦2 billion were seized and removed from the premises. The alleged activities raise public-health concerns because counterfeit and contaminated alcoholic beverages may contain harmful substances or be manufactured and stored under unsafe conditions.
Depending on the substances involved, exposure to toxic alcohol contaminants can cause severe illness, organ damage, blindness or death. However, the health risks associated with the seized products would depend on their composition and the results of any laboratory analysis.
NAFDAC urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspected illegal production, the resale of expired products and the distribution of counterfeit goods.
The agency provided the following complaints line for reports: 0800-1-NAFDAC (0800-1-623322).
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Korede Abdullah