NAFDAC Seizes N350 million Fake Alcohol, Shuts Two Illegal Factories in Lagos

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has uncovered and dismantled two illegal production outlets involved in the counterfeiting and adulteration of alcoholic beverages in Lagos State.

This was disclosed in a statement shared by the agency on Wednesday following enforcement operations across key commercial hubs in the state.

The raid led to the seizure of counterfeit alcoholic products valued at approximately N350 million, highlighting the scale of illicit activity in the sector.

What NAFDAC is saying 

NAFDAC said the operation was based on credible intelligence, which led its enforcement team to Zamfara Plaza at the Trade Fair Complex and parts of Lagos Island.

According to the agency, over 1,800 cartons of counterfeit and adulterated alcoholic drinks were recovered during the raids.

• “Acting on credible intelligence, enforcement operatives raided facilities at Zamfara Plaza, Trade Fair Complex, and Lagos Island, recovering over 1,800 cartons of counterfeit and adulterated alcoholic products valued at approximately N350 million,” they said 

It added that at the Trade Fair Complex, officers uncovered makeshift production facilities equipped with plastic mixing tanks, improvised filtration systems, empty branded bottles, corks, and packaging materials used to produce fake alcoholic beverages.

The agency urged consumers to purchase products only from authorised outlets and report suspicious activities to the nearest NAFDAC office or through its toll-free line.

Backstory 

The crackdown comes as the illicit alcohol trade remains a persistent challenge in Nigeria, with counterfeit products continuing to find their way into the market despite ongoing regulatory efforts.

• According to a 2024 survey cited by the Spirits and Wines Association of Nigeria, illicit trade accounts for about 40 per cent of the spirits and wines market, meaning roughly two out of every five bottles sold in Nigeria come from unregulated sources.
• Stakeholders say the issue is driven by a mix of consumer demand for cheaper alternatives, regulatory gaps, and taxation pressures, which create incentives for illegal operators to thrive. These products often bypass quality checks and safety standards, raising concerns about public health risks.
• Beyond safety concerns, the trend has significant economic implications as Illicit operators do not pay taxes, resulting in substantial revenue losses for the government while also undermining legitimate businesses that comply with regulations.

What you should know 

NAFDAC has in recent years intensified enforcement efforts targeting counterfeit food, drugs, and beverages across major markets and distribution channels.

Nigeria’s drug and food regulator destroyed over 600 tons of counterfeit, expired, and substandard products worth more than N10 billion in Kano. The 618 tons of seized items, ranging from fake medicines and contaminated food to hazardous cosmetics and agrochemicals, posed serious risks to public health and safety.

• In February this year, the agency confiscated more than 10 million doses of fake malaria drugs and cosmetic products worth about N3 billion at the Trade Fair Market in Lagos.
• Other major seizures include counterfeit malaria drugs valued at over N1.2 billion intercepted in a Lagos warehouse, pharmaceutical products worth more than N9.23 billion handed over by the Nigeria Customs Service, and 16 containers of fake and banned products valued at about N20.5 billion seized in Port Harcourt.

Additionally, NAFDAC destroyed expired and substandard medical products worth over N15 billion in Ibadan, highlighting the scale of enforcement actions being carried out nationwide to curb the circulation of harmful products.