NAFDAC seized over N200 million worth of fake alcoholic drink packaging materials and sealed five shops at Old Court Road Market in Aba.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control(NAFDAC) has carried out a major enforcement operation in Aba, Abia State, seizing fake drink packaging materials worth over ₦200 million and sealing five commercial shops at the Old Court Road Market.
Officers from NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate carried out the swift raid on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, following credible intelligence about secret business owners producing and supplying counterfeit bottle labels, fake covers, and cartons for fake alcoholic drinks and other daily household goods.
During the market raid, officers uncovered thousands of fake bottle covers, printed labels, and outer cartons carrying the brand names of popular expensive and local drinks.
Some of the well-known drink brands found in the shops include Jameson, Glenfiddich, Four Cousins, Lord’s Dry Gin, Imperial Blue, Chelsea, Squadron, and Seaman’s Aromatic Schnapps, along with fake packaging for Goya Oil
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Explaining the exact details of the fake materials discovered inside the market shops and estimating their total financial value, NAFDAC stated: “Today, NAFDAC, acting on credible intelligence, raided five shops at Old Court Road Market, Aba, Abia State, suspected of producing and supplying counterfeit packaging materials for popular alcoholic beverages and other products.”
The agency added: “The operation uncovered counterfeit labels, corks, packs and outer packaging materials bearing the names of several brands, including Jameson, Glenfiddich, Four Cousins, Lord’s Dry Gin, Imperial Blue, Goya Oil, Chelsea, Squadron and Seaman’s Aromatic Schnapps. The packaging materials seized were estimated to be worth over ₦200 million.”
Expressing deep shock over how neat the fake packaging items were made, a senior officer from the agency described the discovery as truly dangerous for public health.
The official warned that the fake labels and covers were made so well that even the original company owners would find it difficult to tell the difference between the real ones and the fake ones.
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The official also revealed that despite the government ban on sachet alcohol, criminal businessmen were still secretly printing and hiding plastic sachet packaging materials inside the market to sell to fake drink makers.
Detailing the tough challenges and dangerous resistance their officers faced from angry market traders as they tried to pack the seized items into trucks, NAFDAC explained that traders gathered to stop them from doing their work.
Describing how market traders tried to block officers from carrying away the seized goods, the official statement noted: “During the operation, NAFDAC’s Investigation & Enforcement operatives encountered threats and resistance from traders, making the evacuation of the seized materials challenging. The owners of the five shops were absent, and the premises were placed on hold to prevent interference with the items remaining inside.”
Because the five shop owners ran away and disappeared before officers arrived at the scene, the enforcement team locked up the shops and put them under heavy legal hold to make sure nobody goes inside to tamper with the remaining evidence.
Updating the public on the next steps to catch the fleeing shop owners, the agency noted that the leader of the market traders has stepped in to help law enforcement officers catch the suspects.
Highlighting the agreement reached with market leaders to hunt down the runaway shop owners, NAFDAC stated: “The market union chairman pledged to help secure the premises and ensure the shop owners were identified and presented to NAFDAC.”
NAFDAC has urged all citizens to be very careful when buying drinks and report any suspicious packaging to the nearest government office.
Jennifer Baba is a journalist, international news correspondent, and writer at Moderncrux, where she covers artificial intelligence, fintech, emerging technologies, global politics, and international affairs. Based in Nigeria, she is passionate about transforming complex global developments into clear, engaging stories that inform and inspire readers.
