The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) has arrested a 52 year old man, Anthony Chidi, who specializes in producing fake alcoholic beverages.
Anthony Chidi was arrested Wednesday at his makeshift production facility inside Mile 3 Market, Diobu, Port Harcourt.
In a release signed by Cyril Monye, Public Relations Officer NAFDAC, South-South Zone said: “He was caught inside a dirty shop washing used bottles of various
brands of alcoholic beverages which he uses in producing the
unwholesome drinks and sale to unsuspecting members of the public”.
“Items found in the shop includes; dirty empty bottles of different brands of local and foreign alcoholic beverages, gallons/jars of ethanol, washed empty bottle, cocks, packaging materials, various brands of already packaged drinks, funnel fitted with filter etc”
From interrogation the statement said the suspect relocated to Port Harcourt from Aba Abia state to continue with his illicit business.
“Chidi said he started the illicit business about a year ago, having
relocated from Aba where he mastered the trade adding that he also gets the labels and packaging materials from Aba while he buys the used bottles within Port Harcourt”
According to the press release, the suspect and siezed items has been handed over to the enforcement and investigation unit of the agency.
“The shop was eventually evacuated and everything inside moved to NAFDAC office while the suspect will be handed over to NAFDAC’s Enforcement and Investigation Directorate for further investigation and prosecution”
The NAFDAC Director, South-South Zone, Pharm Chukwuma Oligbu, the statement said that hard times awaits those still involved in the illicit production of NAFDAC regulated products, warning that those still involve in adulterating registered products to give up the illegal practice or be prepared to go to jail.
