NAFDAC Shuts Cemetery Market in Aba, Abia State

The National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said it has sealed the Cemetery Market Aba, in Abia State, alleged to be the most dreaded and largest cartel ring for the manufacture of fake wines and beverages in Africa.

The agency said the move was a decisive one aimed at curbing the circulation of fake and substandard wine and beverages in Nigeria.

A statement signed by the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, said the estimated value of products mopped up during the December 15, 2024, operation was N5 billion.

She said that NAFDAC had earlier confiscated and destroyed fake products at the market in 2023 estimated at over N750 million. 

Adeyeye said: “The current action of NAFDAC is the most audacious since the history of the market with specific zones barricaded with iron welding and access gates locked till date.

“The operation carried out in conjunction with a large contingency of the military, DSS and Nigeria Police, in a rare display of inter-agency cooperation, was a follow up to a similar raid that was carried out in December 2023”.

The DG said that some of the nefarious activities of the counterfeiters included the manufacturing of all kinds of adulterated products especially different kinds of wine from a wide variety of brands ranging from the following: Seaman Schnapps, Henessy, Four Cousins Carlo Rossi, Jenney, Chelsea London Dry Gin Schnapp Dry Gin, McDowells, Black Labels, Gordons, Martell, Campari, Smirnoff ice, Eva Non-Alcoholic Drink, Evra Non-Alcoholic Drink, Cartel and others.

Adeyeye said that as part of the extensive operations, the agency raided over 240 shops turned factories where the harmful products were being produced and marketed.

She said the shops turned factories were very filthy, using water from very unhygienic sources, harmful chemicals, saccharin, colouring, dirty recycled bottles and cloned packaging materials of other brands.

According to her, the adulteration of alcoholic beverages by criminal elements in the country is being done by mixing of cheaper sources of sugar and starch besides grapes or fruit, among other harmful chemicals unsuitable for human consumption.

“Over 1500 cartons of the fake and substandard products were destroyed during the operation. The street value of the confiscated and destroyed fake products in 2023 is estimated at over seven hundred and fifty million naira only. (N750,000,000). 

“The estimated value of products mopped up during the December 15, 2024, operation is five billion naira. The products being revalidated and mopped up include: soft and carbonated drinks such as Fanta, Coca Cola, Schweppes, Lacasera, Sprite, Hollandia Yoghurt, Super Commando Energy Drink, Feyrouz and Amstel Malta.

Aside from drinks, the DG said notable fake home use beverages such as: Peak Sachet Milk, Cowbell Sachet Milk, Peak Chocolate Drink, Miksi Sachet Milk, Cadbury Chocolate Drink and Ovaltine adulterated versions were also being adulterated.

She said that the fake products were being produced in the market and neatly packaged and sold to unsuspecting consumers.

NAFDAC DG commended the government of Abia State led by Governor Alex Otti and as well as other stakeholders in the market for their support.