Nigeria authorities uncover illegal fake soft drink factory 

NIGERIA – The Anambra State Police Command has dismantled an illegal factory producing fake soft drinks in Okpoko, Ogbaru Local Government Area, arresting one suspect linked to the operation. 

According to a statement released on Sunday by Police Spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad in Awkuzu carried out the raid on September 3, 2025.  

The operation uncovered several counterfeit drinks branded as “Iyi Obeleagu Juice”, which were being manufactured without approval from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). 

Ikenga confirmed that 48-year-old Chigozie Okafor was arrested at the site. He added that the products, considered toxic and unsafe for consumption, posed a serious health risk to both adults and children. 

Commissioner of Police Ikioye Orutugu has ordered a full investigation to track down other perpetrators and bring them to justice. He further warned those involved in illegal food and beverage production to desist immediately, stressing that the Command remains committed to safeguarding public health. 

The discovery adds to a growing list of illegal factories uncovered in Anambra and other states in recent years. In October 2024, authorities raided a fake wine factory in Nkpor, Onitsha, where counterfeit brands such as ‘Classic Heaven’, ‘Baron Devanis’, ‘Dutch Black’, ‘Triple MW’, and Hennessy were being produced.  

Similarly, in June 2024, another illegal facility was found in Umuoji, Idemili North, producing fake pharmaceuticals including paracetamol and Flagyl. 

The continued spread of fake consumables highlights ongoing public health and regulatory challenges in Nigeria. The country remains the largest soft drink consumer in Sub-Saharan Africa, with over 53 billion litres consumed in 2024, according to the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association (VDMA). 

Industry data shows bottled water dominates Nigeria’s beverage market, with 48.7 billion litres sold in 2024, projected to rise to 62 billion litres by 2028. Carbonated soft drinks followed with 3.4 billion litres, expected to reach 4.4 billion litres in the same period. 

Authorities have reiterated the importance of stronger surveillance and consumer awareness to combat the circulation of harmful counterfeit products in Nigeria’s expanding beverage market. 

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