NAFDAC burst counterfeit Moet, Chandon wine, St. Remy Brandy, others in Anambra

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has interrupted the nefarious activities of seven counterfeiters across the country.

Astounding was the counterfeiting of popular brands including Moet and Chandon Wine, St. Remy Brandy, 501 Brandy, Red Label (Johnny Walker) Whisky, Baron De Vals Red Wine, Eagle Schnapps Dry Gin, McDowell Whisky, Jalone Cognac Wine and Pure Heaven Sparkling Drinks.

Director, Investigation and Enforcement, Barr Kingsley Ejiofor who made this known in Lagos on Thursday said the consumption of these counterfeit drinks may lead to Liver Cirrhosis, Kidney failures and cancers.

Barr Ejiofor said the NAFDAC officers who stormed Ogbaru Relief market in Onitsha, Anambra State where the activities were being carried out also discovered a container load of fake holograms, labels and packaging materials of the counterfeited brands.These drinks were produced by manual mixing in plastic buckets and filled into bottles under very unhygienic conditions within the market premises.

These drinks were produced by manual mixing in plastic buckets and filled into bottles under very unhygienic conditions within the market premises.

Six suspects have been arrested and interrogated. They are: Ada Ikeobi (a nursing mother), Chikezie Ogaejiofor, Ikechukwu Onu, Ikechukwu Nwolisa, Chinaza Okolo and Anayo Obi. Investigations is ongoing.

Giving the background on how it was done, Barr Ejiofor said following intelligence reports a team of NAFDAC Investigation and Enforcement and Federal Task Force on Counterfeit and Unwholesome Processed Foods officers stormed Ogbaru Relief Market in Onitsha, Anambra State where they discovered several shops used for the production, distribution, sale and storage of fake and counterfeit alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks of various popular brands valued at over Two Hundred Million Naira.“Tip off on the premises helped the agency to burst these notorious fakers,” he explained.

~The Nation