Police uncover fake wine factory in Lagos

The Lagos State Police Command, on Wednesday, says it has uncovered a factory where assorted fake wine and fruit juice were produced at Aboru area of Oke-Odo, Lagos.
Police Commissioner Imohimin Edgal told newsmen when he visited the factory that the 48-year-old owner of the factory has been arrested.
Various assorted wine, fruit juice and empty bottles were recovered from the uncompleted one-storey building which doubles as factory and owner’s residence.
Three persons were arrested on Thursday, December  13, at Ikotun area of the state for operating fake drugs factory, while many of the fake drugs and chemical materials were recovered.
Edgal said that apart from wine products, several chemicals and reagent used for the manufacturing of the products were also recovered by the police.
He said samples of products recovered from the factory would be sent to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for laboratory analysis.
Edgal said that the house had been sealed until after investigation was concluded.
“This matter is an interesting case because it has to do with the health of Lagosians. Based on intelligence information that some fake assorted wine, gin are being brewed in an uncompleted building.
“On December 18, 2018, at about 2pm, the command received credible information that there exist a fake wine/ brewery in an uncompleted one-storey building at Aboru area of Oke Odo, Lagos, where assorted wine and alcoholic beverages were being produced.
“Based on the information, I directed the Area Commander, Area P, Alagbado, to mobilise to the scene, search and seal off the factory.
“When the team arrived the scene, they executed a search warrant which enable them to search and recover the following items: 4000 bottles of already produced, packed and labeled adulterated wine of different brands.
“10,000 empty bottles, drums of different sizes and various chemicals and reagents used as raw materials and other tools used in the production of fake wine/ fruit drink,” he said
Edgal said further investigation revealed that the said the suspect, a secondary school dropout, had neither the requisite qualification nor licence to embark on such type of business.
He said that incidentally, the factory served as both production base and residence for the suspect, his wife and four children.
The suspect, in his defence, said he was still awaiting approval from NAFDAC to commence commercial production of the drinks.
He also denied that the drinks were fake, insisting that he produced them basically with local fruits.
“I am a creative minded person and all l do here is the production of fruit based drinks. I have not started selling because I am yet to get approval from NAFDAC,” he said.