The agency's operatives stormed Zamfara Plaza, located inside the BBA Trade Fair Complex along the Badagry Expressway in Ojo, Lagos, on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, where the illegal operation was being carried out.
According to NAFDAC, the raid was executed by its Investigation and Enforcement Directorate after weeks of intelligence gathering and surveillance based on credible tip-offs from concerned Nigerians.
During the operation, the agency discovered that what appeared to be ordinary makeshift stores and parking spaces within the plaza were actually being used as a secret factory for the production of counterfeit alcoholic drinks.
NAFDAC said it found more than 20 shops within the complex allegedly involved in the criminal enterprise. The suspects were said to be blending chemicals to produce fake versions of popular alcoholic brands, re-validating expired drinks by changing their expiry dates, and stockpiling banned foreign beverages for sale to unsuspecting members of the public.
Two persons suspected to be behind the illegal business were arrested at the scene while trying to escape.
Confirming the development in a statement on Tuesday, NAFDAC said products worth over N2 billion were seized and evacuated from the location in several trucks. The agency described the scale of the operation as alarming and a serious threat to public health.
The regulatory agency warned Nigerians that consumption of counterfeit, expired, or unsafe alcoholic beverages can lead to liver damage, kidney failure, blindness, and even death, urging consumers to always check for NAFDAC registration numbers and buy drinks only from reputable outlets.
NAFDAC also called on the public to support its fight against fake and substandard products by reporting any suspicious manufacturing site, warehouse, or shop involved in the re-validation of expired products and sale of prohibited drinks.
The agency said such reports can be made through its toll-free complaints line: 0800-1-NAFDAC (0800-1-623322).
The suspects are currently in custody and will be charged to court after investigations are concluded, while the seized products will be destroyed in accordance with the law.
