NAFDAC Nabs Counterfeit Ring, Seizes Fake Packaging Worth ₦200m in Aba Market

​ABA, Abia State — The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has dealt a heavy blow to syndicates specializing in beverage forgery, seizing fake packaging materials valued at over ₦200 million during a high-stakes operation in Abia State.

​Acting on actionable intelligence, operatives from NAFDAC’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate descended on five shops tucked away within the bustling Old Court Road Market in Aba. The targeted stores served as a clandestine hub dedicated to the mass production and distribution of counterfeit branding accessories for several high-profile local and international consumer brands.

​A Web of Global and Local Brands Targeted

​The sweeping raid exposed a massive inventory of counterfeit identity materials designed to deceive unsuspecting consumers. Among the items recovered by enforcement officers were cloned labels, specialized corks, packs, and outer packaging elements mimicking top-tier market favorites.

​The affected brands span multiple categories, including premium spirits and household essentials such as:

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• ​Whisky & Spirits: Jameson, Glenfiddich, Lord’s Dry Gin, Imperial Blue, Chelsea, Squadron, and Seaman’s Aromatic Schnapps

• ​Wines & Oils: Four Cousins and Goya Oil

​Hostile Encounter and Evasive Suspects

​The operation was not without significant hurdles. NAFDAC operatives met intense hostility, threats, and active physical resistance from local traders who attempted to obstruct the enforcement team and complicate the evacuation of the illicit materials.

​Compounding the challenge, the owners of the five targeted premises were conspicuously absent during the raid. In response, NAFDAC placed the properties under strict administrative hold, sealing them off to preserve evidence and prevent any tampering with the remaining contraband inside.

​Market Leadership Intervenes

​To ensure compliance and locate the fleeing suspects, NAFDAC authorities formally engaged the leadership of the market. An official invitation was extended to the Market Union Chairman, who promptly intervened and pledged total cooperation. The chairman guaranteed the security of the sealed shops and committed to helping the agency track down, identify, and hand over the absentee shop owners to law enforcement.

​The latest crackdown in Aba follows a string of aggressive enforcement actions by the agency nationwide to combat the proliferation of fake and unwholesome regulated products that pose severe hazards to public health. NAFDAC has reiterated its warning to criminal networks operating within commercial hubs, vowing that investigations will continue until all culprits are brought to book.