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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raided an illegal alcoholic beverage factory in the Lugbe area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The agency, during the operation, seized adulterated alcoholic beverages and discovered expired salt with altered expiry dates.

NAFDAC, during the enforcement exercise, also intensified efforts to curb the circulation of substandard goods, counterfeits, and rebranded products.

The Director of Investigation and Enforcement for the agency’s Federal Task Force, Mr Shaba Mohammed, told newsmen that the Lugbe area in the FCT has become a hub for producing and distributing substandard alcoholic beverages.

Mohammed noted that imitation brands in the area now carry fake labels of popular alcoholic brands.

According to him, the team found premises where counterfeit alcohol was being repackaged in used bottles with fake labels and altered expiration dates.

“This is one of many recent operations in the FCT, the counterfeit products were manufactured in a residential apartment, using fake packaging materials, often over weekends.

“NAFDAC has sealed the facility and summoned those responsible for further investigation.

“We will remove the counterfeit products from the production site, and our Post-Marketing Surveillance Directorate will sweep the market to clear out any remaining items,” he stated.

Also speaking, the Deputy Director of Investigation and Enforcement for NAFDAC in Kaduna, Mr Tamanuwa Andrew, reported similar findings in Wuse Market and Mararaba, a community bordering the FCT and Nasarawa.

He noted an increase in unregistered herbal remedies and pharmaceutical products, stating that NAFDAC would intensify surveillance to protect public health.

He stated that penalties for those involved in producing counterfeit goods will be determined following further investigation.