The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control – NAFDAC has once again closed down the notorious Cemetery Market in Aba, Abia, following the discovery of counterfeit beverages within the marketplace.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, January 28, NAFDAC’s Director General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, referred to the raid as “the most significant measure in the market’s history,” noting that NAFDAC also found and seized counterfeit and substandard food items and drinks valued at more than N5 billion in its recent operation dubbed Operation Clean Up Aba.
“This is a crucial advancement in protecting public health and reducing the distribution of fraudulent products in Nigeria,” Adeyeye remarked.
During the operation, authorities reportedly uncovered over 240 makeshift factories engaged in the production of fake goods in unsanitary conditions.
Adeyeye mentioned that these workshops utilized dangerous chemicals, polluted water, and recycled bottles to create counterfeit versions of well-known brands, including Hennessy, Seaman Schnapps, Coca-Cola, Sprite, Peak Milk, and Hollandia Yoghurt.
“These illicit activities rely on unclean water sources, saccharin, coloring agents, and noxious chemicals that are not safe for human consumption. The adulteration of alcoholic drinks incorporates cheaper sugars and starches instead of fruits or grapes,” Adeyeye elucidated.
She further stated that over 1,500 cartons of counterfeit products were destroyed on-site, with the overall street value of the confiscated and demolished items estimated to be around N5 billion.
The NAFDAC chief highlighted that the operation also revealed three warehouses hoarding expired Hollandia Yoghurt intended for revalidation on January 22.
The Cemetery Market has gained infamy for its production of counterfeit alcoholic beverages, fizzy drinks, and food items.