The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Command, has raided an illegal factory in the Badagry area of Lagos State, where adulterated fruit juice, branded as "Barkas Juice," was allegedly being produced. Two women, aged 48 and 50, were arrested in connection with the operation. According to the NSCDC, the suspects were arrested after operatives conducted about five days of surveillance in collaboration with a Nigerian Army formation in the area.
Preliminary investigation by the NSCDC showed that the product contained high levels of sugar, water, colourants, dyes, and additives, without real fruit. The Corps said the juice was produced in a highly unhygienic environment and distributed to markets in Lagos, Benin City, Edo State, and other parts of the country. The product was being marketed with a NAFDAC registration number, 01-2166L, which the NSCDC suspected was fake.
The NSCDC stated that fake fruit juice production involves mixing water, synthetic chemical flavourings, industrial sweeteners, artificial colourants, and chemical preservatives, while completely omitting real fruit. The lead suspect confessed that her grandmother started the business as a water production venture before it was expanded into the production of Barkas fruit juice, which she said she inherited about 20 years ago.
Items recovered from the factory included a truck, cartons of the Barkas fruit juice, machinery, chemicals, drums, and a gas cylinder. The Corps said the raid was conducted between 9 pm on Saturday and midnight on Sunday. The NSCDC also stated that preliminary investigation showed that the product contained high levels of sugar, water, colourants, dyes, and additives, which it described as harmful to human health.
The alleged consumption of fake products such as the juice could have serious health consequences, including Type 2 diabetes and liver and kidney failure. The development comes amid concerns over the circulation of counterfeit and substandard food, drugs, cosmetics, and other consumer products in the country. The Lagos State NSCDC Commandant, Adedotun Keshinro, said the suspects would undergo further investigation and be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Keshinro ordered the immediate closure of the unregistered factory to prevent the alleged adulterated products from reaching more consumers. He also assured that the command would collaborate with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and other relevant agencies to ensure that justice was served. The NSCDC's Public Relations Officer, Oluwaseun Abolurin, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
The NSCDC's raid on the fake juice factory is a significant step in the fight against counterfeit and substandard products in Nigeria. The incident highlights the need for increased vigilance and collaboration between law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies to protect consumers from harm. The two suspects are currently in custody, and further investigation is ongoing.
Key points
- Two women were arrested for producing adulterated fruit juice in Lagos.
- The fake juice was found to contain high levels of sugar, water, colourants, dyes, and additives, without real fruit.
- The alleged consumption of the fake juice could lead to serious health consequences, including Type 2 diabetes and liver and kidney failure.
