The Anambra State Police Command has uncovered and shut down an illegal factory engaged in the production of fake soft drinks in Okpoko, Ogbaru Local Government Area.
The operation, carried out by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, led to the arrest of a 48-year-old suspect identified as Chigozie Okafor, who was allegedly running the facility. Large quantities of counterfeit drinks branded as “Iyi Obeleagu Juice” were recovered on site.
Police spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga, in a statement on Sunday, said the products were being manufactured without approval from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), warning that the toxic drinks posed serious risks to public health.
“The products are considered highly harmful to both adults and children. The Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, has ordered a full investigation to identify other collaborators and ensure they face the law,” Ikenga stated.
The police further issued a stern warning to individuals or groups engaging in similar illicit activities, stressing that the command remains committed to safeguarding public health and safety across the state.
The discovery adds to a growing list of recent busts in Anambra State. In October 2024, security operatives sealed an illegal wine factory in Nkpor, Onitsha, where imitation brands of Hennessy, Baron Devanis, and other fake labels were being bottled. Similarly, in June 2024, a factory producing counterfeit pharmaceuticals, including paracetamol and Flagyl, was raided in Umuoji, Idemili North, leading to six arrests.
Authorities say the clampdown on such operations is part of a renewed effort to combat the rise of dangerous counterfeit consumables that threaten the health of millions of Nigerians.
