The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and
Control (NAFDAC) has smashed a criminal rings that specialize in illegal
production of different brands of fake alcoholic beverages inside the
Mile 3 Market in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
NAFDAC coordinator in the state, Mrs. Mercy Ndukwe, who disclosed this to newsmen in Port Harcourt yesterday, said the fake alcoholic beverages were being produced in five lock up shops on the first floor of the market in crude and very unhygienic manner.
Ndukwe stated that gallons of liquid substances suspected to be ethanol and colourants were found all over the stores, adding that the ethanol were being mixed with colourants and used to fill used bottles of different brands of fast selling foreign and locally made alcoholic beverages.
She listed the different brands of the beverages to include, Chelsea Dry Gin, Lord’s Dry Gin, Seaman’s Aromatic schnapps, Gordon’s Dry Gin, Elliot, Royal Challenge, Royal Circle, McDowell’s, Squadron Dark Rum, 501, Jonnie Walker, Grand Master’s, Three Barrels, Red Label, Black Label and Hennessy, which are sold to unsuspecting members of the public.
The NAFDAC coordinator said, “The clandestine activities of the counterfeiters were discovered after a tip-off from a good Nigerian and when NAFDAC got to the market the stores were under lock and keys but were later forced open. The stores where these illicit alcoholic drinks were been produced are located in a very filthy and unhygienic environment in an isolated end of the market.”
Ndukwe however stated that the agency could not apprehend the syndicate behind the criminal act as they failed to show up while the leadership of the market claimed to be unaware of their activities adding that investigations are still ongoing with the leadership of the market to track down the fakers.
NAFDAC coordinator in the state, Mrs. Mercy Ndukwe, who disclosed this to newsmen in Port Harcourt yesterday, said the fake alcoholic beverages were being produced in five lock up shops on the first floor of the market in crude and very unhygienic manner.
Ndukwe stated that gallons of liquid substances suspected to be ethanol and colourants were found all over the stores, adding that the ethanol were being mixed with colourants and used to fill used bottles of different brands of fast selling foreign and locally made alcoholic beverages.
She listed the different brands of the beverages to include, Chelsea Dry Gin, Lord’s Dry Gin, Seaman’s Aromatic schnapps, Gordon’s Dry Gin, Elliot, Royal Challenge, Royal Circle, McDowell’s, Squadron Dark Rum, 501, Jonnie Walker, Grand Master’s, Three Barrels, Red Label, Black Label and Hennessy, which are sold to unsuspecting members of the public.
The NAFDAC coordinator said, “The clandestine activities of the counterfeiters were discovered after a tip-off from a good Nigerian and when NAFDAC got to the market the stores were under lock and keys but were later forced open. The stores where these illicit alcoholic drinks were been produced are located in a very filthy and unhygienic environment in an isolated end of the market.”
Ndukwe however stated that the agency could not apprehend the syndicate behind the criminal act as they failed to show up while the leadership of the market claimed to be unaware of their activities adding that investigations are still ongoing with the leadership of the market to track down the fakers.
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