₦200m Fake Alcohol Packaging Uncovered as NAFDAC Raids Aba Market

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered counterfeit packaging materials bearing the names of popular alcoholic beverage brands, including Jameson and Glenfiddich, during a raid on five shops at Old Court Road Market in Aba, Abia State.

The agency said the seized materials were worth more than ₦200 million, raising concerns about the production and distribution of counterfeit packaging that could be used to make fake products appear genuine.

The operation targeted shops suspected of producing and supplying counterfeit packaging materials for alcoholic beverages and other consumer products. NAFDAC said its Investigation and Enforcement operatives carried out the raid following credible intelligence.

In a statement shared on Wednesday, October 14, the agency disclosed that the operation uncovered fake labels, corks, packs and outer packaging materials bearing the names of several well-known brands.

Apart from Jameson and Glenfiddich, the recovered materials reportedly carried the names of Four Cousins, Lord’s Dry Gin, Imperial Blue, Goya Oil, Chelsea, Squadron and Seaman’s Aromatic Schnapps.

The agency estimated the value of the counterfeit packaging materials at more than ₦200 million. However, its disclosure focused on packaging materials bearing the brands’ names and did not establish that finished bottles of all the affected brands were recovered during the operation.

NAFDAC said its enforcement team encountered threats and resistance from some traders during the raid, making it difficult to evacuate the seized materials. The owners of the five shops were reportedly absent when the operatives arrived.

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To prevent interference with the materials left behind, the agency said the affected premises were placed on hold while steps were taken to secure them. NAFDAC subsequently invited the chairman of the market union, who reportedly pledged to ensure the security of the premises and assist in identifying and presenting the shop owners to the authorities.

The agency did not publicly identify the owners of the affected shops in its account of the operation. The identities of the individuals behind the suspected counterfeiting activity, the sources of the materials and their intended destinations remain unclear.

The seizure has renewed concerns about the risks posed by counterfeit packaging in Nigeria’s alcoholic beverage market. Fake labels, bottle closures and outer packaging can make it difficult for consumers to distinguish genuine products from counterfeit goods, particularly when imitation packaging closely resembles that of established brands.

Where such materials are used to package adulterated or unregulated drinks, consumers may have no reliable way of determining the contents or the conditions under which the products were manufactured. The consumption of counterfeit or adulterated alcoholic beverages can expose people to dangerous substances and serious health complications.

NAFDAC has previously conducted enforcement operations against suspected counterfeit beverage production in Aba. In December 2023, the agency announced a separate operation at Eziukwu Market, also known as Cemetery Market, targeting shops allegedly used to produce counterfeit and adulterated beverages and other consumer goods.

The agency reported that the earlier operation involved more than 240 shops and resulted in the destruction of over 1,500 cartons of fake and substandard products, with the confiscated and destroyed goods valued at approximately ₦750 million. That operation was separate from the latest raid at Old Court Road Market.

NAFDAC is responsible for regulating the manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution, advertisement and sale of regulated products in Nigeria, including food, medicines and beverages. Through its Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, the agency conducts operations against counterfeit, adulterated, substandard and unregistered products.

The latest seizure highlights the importance of enforcement efforts targeting not only fake finished products but also the packaging materials that can facilitate counterfeiting. Consumers are advised to purchase alcoholic beverages from reputable retailers and remain alert to suspicious packaging, broken seals, unusual product appearances and prices that are significantly lower than normal.

However, the presence of a familiar label alone does not establish that a drink is genuine. Effective regulatory oversight, supply-chain monitoring and product traceability remain important safeguards against counterfeit goods.

NAFDAC said steps were being taken to secure the affected premises and identify the shop owners. The full extent of the suspected counterfeiting operation, including whether the recovered materials had already been used to package fake products, has not been established in the information released by the agency.