The National Food and Drug Administration and Control Agency, or NAFDAC, has arrested Anthony Chidi, 52 years old, for manufacturing fake alcoholic drinks at Mile 3 Market in Diobu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
In a Wednesday statement, Cyril Monye, Public Relations Officer, South-South Zone, NAFDAC, said Chidi was discovered in a filthy shop washing used bottles of various brands of alcoholic beverages and then swapping them with substandard drinks, which he sold to unsuspecting customers.
Among the items in the store were dirty, empty bottles of some local and foreign alcoholic beverages, gallons and jars of ethanol, clean empty bottles, corks, packaging materials, different brands of pre-packaged drinks, and a filter funnel.
The statement revealed that Chidi admitted to starting the illegal business about a year ago after relocating from Aba, where he learned the trade.
It added that “he also gets the labels and packaging materials from Aba while he buys the used bottles within Port Harcourt.”
The agency stated that “the shop was eventually evacuated, and everything inside was moved to NAFDAC’s office, while the suspect will be handed over to NAFDAC’s Enforcement and Investigation Directorate for further investigation and prosecution.”
The statement also quoted the NAFDAC Director for the South-South Zone, Pharm. Chukwuma Oligbu, as saying, “hard times await those still involved in the illicit production of NAFDAC-regulated products.”
Oligbu further warned that “those still involved in adulterating registered products should give up the illegal practice or be prepared to go to jail.”
