By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
THE MANUFACTURE of counterfeit wines and beverages in Nigeria has taken a significant hit with the sudden shutdown of Cemetery Market, Aba.
Long regarded as the epicentre of Africa’s largest fake wine and beverage cartel, the market was sealed off in an unprecedented operation led by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
This decisive crackdown aimed to stem the circulation of adulterated and substandard drinks in the country.
In a definite show of inter-agency collaboration, NAFDAC joined forces with the military, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Police to carry out the operation.
Specific zones of the market were barricaded, access gates locked, and over 240 illicit production shops disguised as factories were raided.
NAFDAC investigations revealed the shocking scale of activities at these makeshift factories, where counterfeiters manufactured fake wines and beverages in unhygienic conditions.
Contaminated water, harmful chemicals, saccharin, and dirty recycled bottles were routinely used, alongside cloned packaging materials from legitimate brands.
Products such as Seaman Schnapps, Hennessy, Four Cousins, Gordons, Campari, and Eva Non-Alcoholic Drinks were also among those counterfeited.
The operation resulted in the destruction of over 1,500 cartons of fake and substandard products.
In 2023 alone, counterfeit products worth ₦750 million were confiscated and destroyed.
This latest raid, in a statement issued by the Agency was conducted on December 15, 2024, and unearthed fake beverages with other adulterated goods valued at over ₦5 billion.
Additionally, soft drinks like Coca-Cola, Sprite, and Lacasera, along with sachet milk brands such as Peak and Cowbell, were being fraudulently revalidated and sold to unsuspecting consumers.
Abia State Governor Alex Otti has been instrumental in supporting “Operation Clean Up Aba,” a NAFDAC-led initiative targeting the proliferation of counterfeit goods in the region.
The Mayor of Aba South, the interim market management committee, and other stakeholders have also worked diligently to aid these efforts.
Their collaboration recently uncovered three warehouses stocked with expired Hollandia Yoghurt, awaiting revalidation for resale.
NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, expressed the agency’s unwavering commitment to protecting public health.
She urged citizens to report any suspicious activities involving counterfeit products to the nearest NAFDAC office, adding that this crackdown is the most audacious in the history of Cemetery Market and a testament to her Agency’s resolve to safeguard Nigerians from the dangers posed by fake and substandard beverages.
