The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced increased measures against producers of adulterated beverages following the arrest of Anthony Chidi in the Mile 3 Market located in the Diobu area of Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State.
Cyril Monye, the Public Relations Officer for NAFDAC’s South-South Zone, shared details in a statement released on Wednesday. Monye reported that Chidi, 52, was apprehended while washing used bottles of various alcoholic brands in a market shop.
Chukwuma Oligbu, the Director of NAFDAC for the South-South Zone, emphasized the agency’s commitment to tackling such illicit activities. He warned that strict consequences await individuals involved in the illegal production of NAFDAC-regulated products, stating, “Hard times await those still involved in the illicit production of NAFDAC regulated products.” He urged anyone engaged in the adulteration of registered products to cease their activities or face severe legal repercussions.
In the statement, Monye detailed the conditions of Chidi’s shop, describing it as unclean and filled with used bottles from different beverages. Items confiscated included dirty empty bottles of both local and international alcoholic brands, containers of ethanol, washed empty bottles, packaging materials, and various already packaged drinks.
Chidi confessed to having operated this illegal business for approximately one year, having previously relocated from Aba in Abia State, where he learned the trade. He indicated that he obtained labels and packaging materials from Aba while acquiring used bottles in Port Harcourt.
The shop’s contents have been seized and transferred to the NAFDAC office for further examination. Chidi will be handed over to the Enforcement and Investigation Directorate for ongoing investigation and potential prosecution.
