By TheDailyNewsHub Reporter
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it has uncovered a suspected counterfeit drinks operation at Zamfara Plaza, BBA Trade Fair Complex, in Lagos State, with two suspects arrested during the operation.
The agency disclosed the development in a post on its official X account, alleging that the suspects were involved in revalidating energy drinks and popular wine and whisky brands at the facility.
The operation raises fresh concerns about the circulation of potentially falsified alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in Nigeria, particularly products whose authenticity, manufacturing details or expiry dates may be difficult for consumers to verify.
NAFDAC is responsible for regulating and controlling the manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution and sale of food, drugs and other regulated products in Nigeria. Its mandate includes taking action against products that do not meet applicable safety and quality requirements.
However, the agency’s announcement did not provide details of the quantity of drinks recovered, the identities of the arrested suspects, the specific brands involved or whether laboratory tests had been conducted on any seized products. It also did not state whether the facility had been sealed or disclose the next steps in the investigation.
The allegation that products were being revalidated has not been independently established beyond the agency’s account. Further details from NAFDAC would be needed to determine the precise methods allegedly used, the products affected and whether the drinks posed a confirmed health risk.
Counterfeit or improperly relabelled beverages can create risks for consumers when packaging conceals information about a product’s origin, composition, storage conditions or expiry date. Consumers may be unable to distinguish genuine products from falsified ones simply by examining a bottle or its label.
The latest operation follows earlier concerns over unsafe alcoholic beverages in Nigeria. In September 2026, NAFDAC linked deaths in parts of Ondo State to suspected locally prepared alcoholic and herbal concoctions containing high concentrations of methanol in preliminary laboratory findings. The agency’s investigation, detailed in TheDailyNewsHub’s report on the Ondo alcohol-related deaths, highlighted the potentially fatal consequences of consuming unsafe or unregulated drinks.
Methanol poisoning can cause serious illness, blindness and death. However, no information currently establishes a connection between the Ondo State incident and the suspected counterfeit drinks facility in Lagos.
Consumers are advised to purchase beverages from reputable retailers, check product labels and packaging for signs of tampering, and avoid products with unclear labelling or suspicious expiry-date markings. Suspected falsified or unsafe products can be reported to NAFDAC for investigation.
The agency’s findings in the Lagos case, including the identities of those arrested, the products involved and any laboratory results, are expected to clarify the scope of the alleged operation as further information becomes available.