The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has confiscated alcoholic beverages estimated at N300m from markets in Lagos over violations of the Federal Government’s ban on sachet drinks and alcoholic beverages packaged in PET bottles below 200ml.
The enforcement operations targeted Ile-Epo Market, Ojuwoye Market in Mushin and Oke-Arin Market on Lagos Island, where NAFDAC officials evacuated several cartons of the prohibited products.
Some distributors and retailers were also arrested during the exercise, particularly at Ile-Epo Market.
According to Brandspur Brand News, the agency said its investigations showed that some traders were deliberately keeping stocks of the banned beverages as demand and prices increased.
NAFDAC said the seizures formed part of its ongoing efforts to enforce the prohibition and prevent further sale and distribution of the affected alcoholic products.
The agency warned distributors, retailers and other businesses involved in the trade that the ban remains in force, adding that operators must not sell, distribute or hoard the prohibited drinks.
The latest enforcement comes after NAFDAC ordered manufacturers of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml to recall the products nationwide.
The agency had also warned that manufacturers risk closure if they failed to comply with the recall directive.
NAFDAC previously maintained that the Federal Government’s prohibition was irrevocable after the expiration of the years of grace granted to manufacturers to discontinue production of the affected products.
The seizure therefore signals continued enforcement against businesses still holding or trading in the banned beverages, with NAFDAC warning that further violations will attract regulatory action.
