A joint task force of Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA) Brigade, in collaboration with the presidential task force against economic sabotage and oil vandalism, has uncovered a criminal syndicate involved in the production and sale of counterfeit alcoholic beverages in Onitsha.
The discovery was made during a raid on Friday following credible intelligence received by the task force.
Briefing journalists in Onitsha, Celestine Anere, the managing director of OCHA Brigade, disclosed that seven suspects were apprehended during the operation.
The raid, which took place at a factory known as Aliban, located on Onowu Street, off the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, led to the discovery of over 2,000 cartons of fake wines.
“Following reliable intelligence, our enforcement officers raided the factory where various brands of alcoholic drinks and wines were being illicitly produced, packaged, and distributed to markets across the state,” Anere said.
During the raid, the task force also discovered that several other stores and warehouses in the vicinity had been converted into makeshift factories where the fake alcoholic drinks were being manufactured.
“Over 2,000 cartons of wines and other packaged drinks were seized, along with unsafe production equipment such as mixing tanks, an improvised filtration system, and various packaging materials. Bags of empty bottles were also found on-site. We have arrested seven suspects, and they will face prosecution, though the factory owner is still at large,” Anere revealed.
He also issued a warning to the public: “I urge Nigerians to remain vigilant when purchasing alcoholic beverages and wines. Carefully inspect the products to differentiate them from counterfeits before consuming.”
Collins Enebeli, the state coordinator of the presidential task force against economic sabotage and oil vandalism, also spoke during the briefing.
He noted that Anambra has become a hub for the production of counterfeit goods, and vowed that the task force would continue to intensify efforts to curb all forms of economic sabotage in the country.
“One of our major focuses is to put an end to the production of fake products, and we will not relent until these criminal activities are brought to a stop,” Enebeli stated.
One of the arrested suspects, who claimed to be a worker at the factory, pleaded for leniency. “I am just a worker trying to make ends meet. I don’t know if the factory has certification or not. We come here to work, and the boss supplies over 1,000 cartons of wine and other drinks to the market daily,” she said.
