Army arrests owner of illegal alcohol factory worth N50m in Badagry

The Nigerian Army has arrested and handed over the owner of an illegal alcohol factory in Badagry, Chinedu Okafor, to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

In a statement on Sunday in Lagos, by Mr Sayo Akintola, NAFDAC Resident Media Consultant, the agency said its enforcement team was aided by the Nigerian Army 15 Field Engineering Regiment in Badagry to dismantle the illegal alcohol factory.

Akintola alleged that the factory belonged to one Mr Chinedu Okafor, a suspected illegal drinks manufacturer, operating from his residence at No. O24, MTN Road, Badagry.

“Okafor’s suspicious activities caught the attention of the Nigerian Army, leading to his arrest and subsequent handover to NAFDAC officers at the Ports Inspection Directorate, Seme Border.

“Upon inspection, officers evacuated all equipment and materials used in the production of illicit drinks, and effectively shut down the illegal factory.

“Investigations revealed that Okafor’s longstanding involvement in criminal activities has compromised regulated alcohol drinks in the area,” he said,

He also said that the suspect will face prosecution, and all offending products will be destroyed, with an estimated value exceeding fifty million naira (?50,000,000).

Akintola noted that NAFDAC emphasised the need for public vigilance, while urging Nigerians to report suspicious activities to safeguard public health.

He said the agency warned Nigerians on the consumption of adulterated alcohol, adding that it could lead to kidney and liver failure or even death.

Akintola called on Nigerians to always consider the “4 Ps” (Place, Price, Packaging, Product) before buying any alcoholic product.

“The World Health Organisation (WHO), in their Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health, estimated that more than three million people died all over the world as a result of alcohol poisoning.

“The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) says that one of every 10 cancer cases in Nigeria can be traced to alcohol and 4.7 percent of overall cancer cases in Nigeria in 2019 can be attributed to consumption of adulterated alcohol.

“Nigerians must remain vigilant and scrutinize branded drinks to distinguish them from counterfeits before consuming them,” he said.