Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has seized and destroyed products valued at more than ₦5.3 billion in a week following enforcement operations across Lagos, Abia and Rivers states, raising fresh concerns about the risks posed by suspected counterfeit drinks, substandard medicines and potentially unsafe food products.
The operations included the seizure of suspected counterfeit alcoholic beverages and repackaging materials at markets and commercial premises, as well as the destruction of goods intercepted at Onne Port in Rivers State. NAFDAC said the products included pharmaceuticals, chemicals, tomato paste, biscuits and other items it classified as counterfeit, substandard or unwholesome. The reported value represents the agency’s assessment of the goods involved, not a confirmed estimate of the financial losses or health damage they would have caused if sold. <Cite refs={["turn931223view0","turn931223search0"]}/>
The latest enforcement activities form part of the regulator’s continuing efforts to prevent unsafe products from reaching consumers. They also highlight the difficulties authorities face in monitoring informal distribution networks, identifying illegal repackaging operations and ensuring that products sold under familiar brand names are genuine.
Lagos operation uncovers more than 20 illegal stores
One of the largest operations took place on October 13 at Zamfara Plaza, within the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex along the Badagry Expressway in Ojo.
NAFDAC said its operatives uncovered more than 20 illegal stores allegedly involved in counterfeit alcoholic beverage operations. According to the agency, activities at the premises included producing imitations of established beverage brands, repackaging drinks and attempting to make expired products appear suitable for resale.
The agency reported that suspected counterfeit alcoholic drinks and illegally brewed or repackaged products valued at approximately ₦2 billion were seized during the operation. Two suspects were arrested, while the products were evacuated from the premises. These are allegations reported by the regulator; the arrests do not establish the guilt of the individuals involved. <Cite refs={["turn931223view0","turn931223search5"]}/>
The operation illustrates a particular danger in the alcoholic beverage market: a product can appear familiar because its bottle, label or packaging resembles that of a recognised brand, even when the liquid inside has not come from the legitimate manufacturer.
Where expired beverages are relabelled or adulterated drinks are sold in reused bottles, consumers may have little ability to determine the product’s true contents by appearance alone.
NAFDAC has warned against illegal manufacturing, repackaging and sales of regulated products and urged members of the public to report suspicious activities.
Aba raids target suspected counterfeit drinks and packaging materials
In Aba, Abia State, NAFDAC said its officers raided five shops at Old Court Road Market over suspected counterfeit alcoholic beverages and related packaging materials.
The agency valued the seized goods at more than ₦700 million. Reported items included labels, corks, packs and outer packaging bearing the names of established brands.
According to NAFDAC, officers encountered resistance from traders during the operation, which affected the evacuation of some materials. The agency said the premises were placed on hold to prevent interference with items left behind while the investigation continued. <Cite refs={["turn931223view0","turn931223search2"]}/>
A separate operation on October 15 targeted a suspected alcoholic beverage counterfeiting facility at No. 25 Omenazu Street in Aba. NAFDAC alleged that the premises were used to produce spirits and herbal liqueurs under unhygienic conditions.
The agency said the operator fled when officers arrived following a tip-off. It reported finding empty bottles, packaging equipment, labels bearing established brand names and drums containing liquids and other materials used in the suspected production process.
Officials also reported discovering approximately 200 litres of liquid in a drum, alongside containers of ethanol, plastic buckets, tanks holding liquid mixtures, dirty sieves and sealing equipment. The facility and associated materials were valued by the agency at more than ₦500 million. <Cite refs={["turn931223view0","turn931223search4"]}/>
The reported discoveries raise questions about how counterfeit products are manufactured, packaged and moved into distribution channels. However, the exact composition and safety of individual liquids cannot be established from their appearance alone; laboratory analysis and regulatory investigations are needed to determine their contents.
Rivers State: ₦2.6 billion worth of seized goods destroyed
The third major part of the reported enforcement activity involved the destruction of goods valued at ₦2.6 billion in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on October 16.
NAFDAC said the items had been intercepted and seized by the Nigeria Customs Service at Onne Port between 2025 and 2026. The goods included pharmaceutical products, chemicals, tomato paste, biscuits and other products considered unwholesome or unsuitable for consumption or use.
The destruction took place at a dumpsite in Eneka, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. Officials from NAFDAC and the Nigeria Customs Service were involved in the exercise. <Cite refs={["turn931223search0","turn931223view0"]}/>
NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Martins Iluyomade, who represented the agency’s Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, described the exercise as part of cooperation between the regulator and Customs.
He said the destruction was the first phase and that additional seized goods were expected to be brought from the port for disposal. He also called for sustained cooperation between government agencies, arguing that enforcement depends on effective coordination rather than rivalry between institutions. <Cite refs={["turn931223view0","turn931223search0"]}/>
The reported value of the three operations—approximately ₦2 billion in Lagos, more than ₦700 million in Aba and ₦2.6 billion in Rivers—accounts for the headline total of more than ₦5.3 billion. These figures combine different categories of goods and enforcement actions, including seizures and destruction, and should not be interpreted as the value of one single shipment or one type of product.
Why counterfeit drinks can threaten public health
Counterfeit and adulterated alcoholic beverages can pose serious health risks because consumers may not know what they are drinking, how the liquid was produced or whether it contains substances unsuitable for consumption.
Alcoholic drinks produced in unhygienic conditions or adulterated with inappropriate chemicals can cause poisoning and other potentially serious complications. The risk depends on the actual ingredients, concentration and level of contamination; not every suspected counterfeit product has been shown to contain the same dangerous substance.
The problem is made more difficult when illegal operators use bottles and labels that resemble legitimate brands. A consumer may believe a product is authentic because the packaging looks familiar, even though its origin and contents are uncertain.
For this reason, checking packaging alone cannot guarantee that a beverage is safe. Consumers should avoid products with suspicious seals, damaged or altered labels, unclear manufacturer information or unusually low prices that appear inconsistent with the product’s normal market value.
People who suspect that a drink has been tampered with should not taste it to test its safety. They should retain the packaging where safe to do so and report the concern to the relevant regulator.
Fake and substandard medicines pose a different danger
Counterfeit or substandard medicines can undermine treatment in several ways. They may contain the wrong ingredients, insufficient quantities of the intended active substance, contaminants or no effective active ingredient at all.
When a patient takes a medicine that does not work as expected, the consequences can extend beyond the immediate product. A treatable illness may worsen, symptoms may persist, and delays in obtaining effective treatment can increase the risk of complications.
Substandard products may also create uncertainty for health professionals trying to determine why a patient has not responded to treatment. In some cases, the apparent failure of a medicine may be attributed to the disease or the patient when the product itself is the problem.
NAFDAC’s reported enforcement activities included pharmaceuticals as well as food, beverages and chemicals. The agency’s account did not establish that every seized pharmaceutical product contained a particular contaminant or caused harm to a patient. Such conclusions require evidence from testing and investigation. <Cite refs={["turn931223view0","turn931223search9"]}/>
Consumers should obtain medicines through legitimate and appropriately licensed outlets, check product details and follow professional advice. Suspected counterfeit or ineffective medicines should be reported rather than shared with others or resold.
Patients who believe a medicine has caused an adverse reaction or failed unexpectedly should seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional, particularly where the condition being treated is serious or worsening.
What consumers can do to reduce exposure
Although regulators are responsible for monitoring products and enforcing standards, consumer vigilance can help identify suspicious goods before more people are exposed.
Practical precautions include:
Buy from reliable sources. Use licensed pharmacies and reputable retailers, especially for medicines and other regulated products.
Inspect packaging. Look for broken seals, altered expiry dates, spelling errors, inconsistent labels or evidence that a container has been reused.
Be cautious about unusually cheap products. A price far below the usual retail level can be a warning sign, although price alone does not prove that a product is counterfeit.
Do not rely on appearance alone. Familiar packaging does not guarantee that the contents are genuine.
Avoid suspicious products. Do not consume a drink or take a medicine if there is a credible reason to believe it has been tampered with.
Report suspected violations. Share relevant information with NAFDAC or the appropriate authorities rather than confronting suspected illegal operators directly.
These precautions do not replace regulatory testing. Some counterfeit products are deliberately designed to resemble genuine goods, making it difficult for consumers to distinguish them without specialised verification.
Enforcement must be matched by monitoring and prosecution
The latest operations demonstrate the scale of the enforcement activity reported by NAFDAC, but the destruction of seized products is only one part of the response required to control counterfeit goods.
Effective regulation also depends on tracing supply chains, investigating the people and businesses behind illegal production, securing evidence, pursuing appropriate legal action and monitoring whether the same networks reappear elsewhere.
The agency’s account identified two arrests in the Lagos operation, but the reports reviewed did not establish the final legal outcomes of those cases. Suspected operators remain entitled to due process, and allegations must be tested through the relevant investigative and judicial procedures.
Cooperation between NAFDAC, Customs, law-enforcement bodies, market authorities and legitimate manufacturers can help investigators identify the origins of suspicious goods and close gaps that allow them to circulate.
Public awareness is also important. Traders and consumers need accessible ways to check products, recognise warning signs and report suspicious activity without putting themselves at risk.
What happens next?
NAFDAC has indicated that more seized goods could be brought from Onne Port for destruction following the initial exercise in Rivers State. Further investigations may also be required to establish the sources of the products, identify the individuals responsible and determine whether prosecution is warranted. <Cite refs={["turn931223view0","turn931223search0"]}/>
The immediate public-health objective is to prevent unsafe products from entering shops, markets and homes. The longer-term test will be whether enforcement can disrupt the networks that manufacture, repackage or distribute them.
For consumers, the episode is a reminder that counterfeit products are not merely a commercial or trademark issue. When drinks, medicines and food items contain unknown ingredients or fail to meet required standards, the consequences can affect health and safety.
NAFDAC’s reported seizures and destruction of goods valued at more than ₦5.3 billion represent a significant enforcement operation. Sustained surveillance, credible investigations, effective prosecution where evidence supports it and informed consumer reporting will be essential to translating such operations into lasting public-health protection.
By Simpson Global Media News Desk
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