MyNigeria takes a look at the four times fake drink manufacturers have been busted and arrested in Nigeria.

Most of the operations were carried out by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.

A fifth bust was carried out by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Badagry, Lagos.

This followed the recent arrests of two suspects and the recovery of items worth N2bn at Trade Fair Complex in Lagos on Tuesday.

1. April 2026: Dismantling of two illegal alcohol production outlets in Lagos (₦350 million seizure)

NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate raided facilities at Zamfara Plaza in the Trade Fair Complex and on Lagos Island.

Operatives found makeshift setups with plastic mixing tanks, improvised filtration systems, empty branded bottles, corks, and packaging materials used to produce and package fake alcoholic drinks.

Over 1,800 cartons of counterfeit and adulterated products valued at about ₦350 million were recovered; a suspect linked to production and distribution via a retail outlet was arrested.

2. Ongoing 2026 enforcement against banned sachet/PET alcohol manufacturers and distributors (including July intensification)

NAFDAC repeatedly targeted the illegal production, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and PET bottles under 200 ml (banned on public-health grounds). In July 2026, the agency highlighted continued production by some manufacturers, attempts to evade oversight, and even attacks on officers. These actions form part of a nationwide mop-up rather than single factory raids.


3. Early October 2026: Raids on Lagos markets seizing ₦300 million in banned sachet/PET alcohol

Operatives hit Ile-Epo Market, Ojuwoye Market (Mushin), and Oke-Arin Market (Lagos Island). Distributors and retailers were arrested for hoarding and selling the prohibited small-packaged alcoholic drinks.

While focused more on distribution, it was tied to the broader crackdown on illegal production of these products.


4. October 2026: Major raid at Lagos International Trade Fair Complex (Zamfara Plaza / makeshift stores) — ₦2 billion+ seizure

This is the largest and most detailed publicised action of the year. NAFDAC uncovered a suspected counterfeit production facility at Zamfara Plaza, BBA Trade Fair Complex (Badagry Expressway, Ojo), plus more than 20 illegal stores concealed in makeshift parking areas.

Suspects were caught blending/counterfeiting popular alcoholic brands, revalidating expired energy drinks (e.g., Bullet), wines, and whiskies by removing expiry labels and repackaging, and stockpiling banned imports. Equipment recovered included drums, filters, packaging materials, heating devices, labels, corks, and chemicals.

Two suspects (identified in reports as Chibuzor Okafor and William John) were arrested. Products valued at over ₦2 billion were seized and evacuated. Officials noted the operators had previously moved after an earlier enforcement action at the same complex.

5. NSCDC busts fake juice factory in Lagos, arrests two in September


The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Lagos State Command, has busted an illegal factory in the Badagry area of Lagos State where adulterated fruit juice, branded as “Barkas Juice,” was allegedly being produced.

Two women, aged 48 and 50, were arrested in connection with the operation.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Oluwaseun Abolurin, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, saying the suspects were arrested after operatives from the Badagry area conducted about five days of surveillance in collaboration with a Nigerian Army formation in the area.

According to the NSCDC, preliminary investigation showed that the product contained high levels of sugar, water, colourants, dyes and additives, without real fruit.

The Corps said the juice was produced in a highly unhygienic environment and distributed to markets in Lagos, Benin City, Edo State, and other parts of the country.

ASA