An illegal wine factory located in Anambra state has been busted by operatives of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, and nine suspects arrested in connection with the production of illegal wines and beverages.
The illegal factory located at the Relief Market in Onitsha, Anambra State was busted during a special raid conducted by men of the agency to enforce the ban placed on imported fruit juices by the Federal Government.
NAFDAC’s Head of Investigation and Enforcement, Kingsley Ejiofor on Wednesday explained that the illegal factory was responsible for bottling of unhealthy drinks.
He added: “We came here for a special assignment to mop up all counterfeit and prohibited products which include imported fruit juices, food, drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, detergent and bottled water, among others.
“We were able to uncover illegal manufacturers of bottle, unwholesome and dangerous chemicals, they call wine and spirits. It was so disheartening.”
He added that the illegal wine factory was specialised in faking brands of beverages including Hennessey, 501, Johnny Walker, Red Label whisky, Best Marula fruit cream among others. He noted that during the raid, items including stoves, colourants, plastic containers, cups, labels, corks, and some other unidentified chemicals were seizd.
“In one of the shops, the smell was so pungent that we could not even recover the materials and had to destroy them right there.“This is why we find the incidences of cancer to be high in this country because we don’t know what we drink.
“I will like to use this medium to tell people to destroy cups, plastics or bottles after use because not doing so encourages these illegal producers.”