Two men have been arrested after operatives of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control uncovered a suspected facility where expired drinks were allegedly given new labels for resale in Lagos.
The facility, located at Zamfara Plaza, BBA Trade Fair Complex, was allegedly used to relabel expired Bullet Energy Drink, Don Julio tequila and Jameson whiskey, according to a video shared by NAFDAC on its X handle on Tuesday.
In the video, an operative expressed concern over the alleged practice, warning that consumers could unknowingly buy and consume expired drinks.
“This is the energy drink that millions of Nigerians take every day. What are they doing? They are revalidating it here, removing the expired labels,” the operative said as the footage showed packs of Bullet Energy Drink, including those with old and replacement labels.
The video also showed bottles, chemicals and packaging materials scattered around the facility. The operative alleged that the suspects supplied the drinks to bars and nightclubs through their managers.
“They go to bars and various nightclubs; they liaise with the bar managers and sell these to them for counterfeiting,” the operative said.
NAFDAC confirmed the discovery in a post accompanying the video, stating that two suspects had been arrested at the scene. The agency did not disclose their identities as of the time of filing this report.
The discovery comes amid the agency’s enforcement operations against the sale of alcoholic drinks in sachets and small plastic bottles of less than 200ml.
Bars and Nightclubs Under Investigation
One of the operatives alleged that the suspects worked with individuals connected to bars and nightclubs to obtain expired beverages and facilitate the circulation of counterfeit products.
The agency, however, had not publicly identified any specific bars, nightclubs or other businesses allegedly connected to the operation as of the time of reporting.
The identities of the two arrested suspects were also not immediately disclosed.
NAFDAC is expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged operation and determine whether other individuals or businesses were involved in sourcing, processing or distributing the affected products.
Public Health Concerns
The discovery has renewed concerns about the circulation of expired and counterfeit beverages in Nigeria, particularly products sold through bars, nightclubs and other retail outlets.
Altering expiry labels can prevent consumers from making informed purchasing decisions and may expose them to products whose quality and safety have not been established.
The risks associated with expired beverages depend on several factors, including the product’s composition, storage conditions and the extent of deterioration. However, deliberately concealing expiry information undermines consumer protection and regulatory oversight.
NAFDAC is responsible for regulating and controlling the manufacture, importation, distribution and sale of food, drugs, beverages and other regulated products in Nigeria.
The agency has continued to conduct enforcement operations aimed at identifying illegal production facilities and removing non-compliant products from the market.
The latest discovery comes amid other enforcement activities targeting prohibited alcoholic beverages in Lagos, including seizures of products packaged in sachets and small plastic bottles.
NAFDAC had reported seizing alcoholic beverages estimated to be worth N300m during operations at Ile-Epo Market, Ojuwoye Market in Mushin and Oke-Arin Market on Lagos Island. It also said some distributors and retailers allegedly involved in selling the prohibited products were arrested.
The agency has yet to provide further details on the latest discovery, including the quantity of drinks recovered and the next steps in the investigation.
