The police command in Lagos has arrested two suspects for allegedly producing fake drinks in the state.
The suspects are Imo Lawrence, 35, and Magnus Nwonka, 42.
Benjamin Hundeyin, Lagos police spokesperson, in a statement via X, said the suspects led police officers to their “inconspicuous” multi-room factory.
“Officers of Ojo Division today arrested the duo of Imo Lawrence ‘m’ aged 35 and Magnus Nwonka ‘m’ aged 42 in possession of fake drinks,” Hundeyin wrote.
“In the course of investigation, the suspects led detectives to their inconspicuous, multi-room ‘factory.’ Investigation is ongoing.”
Hundeyin shared a video wherein crates of drinks, plastic containers, and bags of sachet water were seen in flooded and dirty rooms, which serve as the production centres for the fake drinks.
“Officers of Ojo Division today arrested the duo of Imo Lawrence ‘m’ aged 35 and Magnus Nwonka ‘m’ aged 42 in possession of fake drinks,” Hundeyin wrote.
“In the course of investigation, the suspects led detectives to their inconspicuous, multi-room ‘factory’.”
Over the past few days, Nigerians have taken to social media to lament the rising proliferation of fake products in the country, especially drinks and drugs.
Last weekend, officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) cracked down on fake wine factories in Abia state, shutting down several illegal markets suspected of selling and producing adulterated beverages.
During the raid, NAFDAC officials discovered that over 240 shops at the popular Cemetery market in Abia, were being used as production centres for adulterated beverages.
In a statement on Monday, Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC director-general, said after an intelligence tip-off, the agency discovered that the “dastard activity has been going on for a long time and they operate like a cartel threatening anyone who dares challenge them”.
