The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has successfully dismantled a fake bottled water syndicate operating in the Pipeline Road area of Eneka, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Acting swiftly on a tip-off from concerned members of the public, NAFDAC officials made the discovery on Friday morning. Cyril Monye, the Public Relations Officer of NAFDAC’s South-South Zone, revealed in a statement that the suspects had been using a rundown shop as a front for their illegal operations.
According to Monye, one of the distributors of the counterfeit bottled water was apprehended while in the process of packing and loading the product for sale to unsuspecting consumers.
The statement issued by NAFDAC explained the modus operandi of the syndicate: they would collect used Eva plastic bottles, fill them with contaminated water sourced from a paint bucket, and use a dirty rubber funnel covered with fabric as a filter. They would then affix pre-printed Eva labels onto the bottles, and seal them with counterfeit Eva caps.
Chibunna James, one of the distributors involved in the sale of the adulterated water, was arrested during the operation. However, the mastermind behind the production is still at large, and efforts are underway to track him down.
Emmanuel Onogwu, the NAFDAC Coordinator in Rivers State, urged the public to provide the agency with any useful information that could aid in the arrest of criminals involved in the adulteration and counterfeiting of regulated products.
The seized fake bottled water, amounting to 30 packs, was transported to the NAFDAC office in Port Harcourt for further investigation. The uncorked bottles were emptied to prevent them from reaching unsuspecting consumers.
NAFDAC remains committed to safeguarding public health by diligently combating the production and sale of counterfeit and adulterated products. The agency encourages citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities that could jeopardize the safety and well-being of consumers.
