Lagos, Nigeria – Operatives of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Tuesday raided the International Trade Fair Complex in Lagos, uncovering a large-scale counterfeit alcoholic beverage operation concealed in makeshift parking stores and seizing products valued at more than ₦2 billion.
In an official statement shared on its Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) handles, NAFDAC said: “Today, operatives from NAFDAC’s Investigation & Enforcement (I&E) Directorate raided the International Trade Fair Complex in Lagos, uncovering a large-scale counterfeit alcoholic beverage operation concealed within makeshift parking stores on the premises.
“The enforcement action was executed on the basis of credible intelligence and resulted in the discovery of more than 20 illegal stores engaged in criminal operations within the complex. Officers found suspects in the process of blending and counterfeiting popular alcoholic beverage brands, revalidating expired and unsafe beverages for resale, and stockpiling banned imported products.
“Two suspects were apprehended, and products seized and evacuated are valued at over ₦2 billion.”
The agency warned that the production and circulation of counterfeit, expired, or unsafe alcoholic beverages pose serious risks to public health. It urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious manufacturing, revalidation, or sales activity through NAFDAC’s official complaints line: 0800-1-NAFDAC (0800-1-623322).
The raid forms part of NAFDAC’s ongoing efforts to combat the proliferation of substandard and fake regulated products in Nigerian markets, particularly ahead of periods of heightened alcohol consumption. Similar enforcement actions in recent months have targeted illegal production outlets and prohibited packaging formats in Lagos and other states.
NAFDAC continues to advise consumers to purchase alcoholic beverages only from reputable sources and to exercise caution with products that appear unusually cheap or lack proper regulatory markings.
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