By Maria Famakinwa

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Mr Temi Ayi  while traveling early this year bought a bottle of soft drink from one of the hawkers along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. He opened the plastic bottle, drank the contents half way and kept the remaining to be taken at a later time. About 30 minutes after taking it, he made a complaint of stomach upset. The driver was forced to stop when the man started vomiting and crying in agony. He instructed his driver to drive him to a nearby hospital as the stomach pain persisted. On getting to the hospital, it was the driver who explained what happened as the man could hardly talk. He was quickly attended to and given medication to stabilize him while they carried out some tests. The results of the test carried out showed that the drink he bought was fake. His journey to Ibadan came to an abrupt end as the doctor and nurses battled to save his life. The man spent nine days in the hospital before he was discharged. The doctor congratulated him for being among the few lucky ones to survive such a health situation and advised him to be sure of the authenticity of any drink before consuming it stating that some people drank adulterated drink and died after few minutes of consumption.

Cases of counterfeit drinks across the country are becoming alarming as the merchants of death continue to devise strategies to evade arrest while jeopardizing the lives of unsuspecting consumers. Despite the efforts of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to rid the country of fake distillers, they continue to produce fake versions of wines, spirits, and soft drinks as concerns remain about the continued consumption of counterfeit products, particularly during the festive season when demand for readily available goods increases.

In December 2023, NAFDAC seized and destroyed counterfeit beverages worth N750 million in the South-East. They also raided over 240 illegal shops in Abia State, where counterfeit products were being produced under unhygienic conditions using harmful chemicals. In March this year, the Lagos State Police Command announced that its operatives busted a fake drink factory in the Agege area of the state and arrested four suspects connected to the illegal factory. Likewise in April this year, police detectives in Lagos state arrested a couple, Mr and Mrs Austin Idemudia who specialised in the production and distribution of adulterated alcoholic beverages. The couple were rounded up somewhere in the Ado-Odo area of Ogun State following intelligence on their illicit production and distribution of various types of alcoholic beverages. 

Likewise in Lagos State, NAFDAC reported the seizure of over N500 million worth of counterfeit drinks as of September 2024. Several raids were conducted, including one in Badagry in May 2024, which uncovered fake Hennessy drinks and led to the arrest of a suspect. Further raids in Oko-Arin Market on Lagos Island in June and August 2024 exposed illegal production of various alcoholic beverages, with over 2,000 cartons of counterfeit drinks seized. The list is endless as fake distillers are unrelenting in making money without remorse. Some citizens who spoke with The Hope urged relevant authorities to do all they could to nip the deadly acts in the bud to save unsuspecting consumers.

A bar owner at Oba-Ile, Mr Mathins Aribisala, who also affirmed that activities of fake distillers are assuming a frightening dimension, appealed to the government to act swiftly by pronouncing a death sentence for anyone caught in the illegal business to serve as a deterrent.

His words: “I am appealing to both the federal and state governments to go all out against the producers of counterfeit drinks in the country, arrest and hand them maximum punishment to discourage others who might be planning to join the illegal business. As we speak, some people are nursing terminal ailments due to the consumption of fake drinks while some lives had been wasted for the same reason. Let me inform you that people producing fake drinks are increasing daily due to the harsh economy. To them, they are less concerned about consumer safety as much as they are doing brisk business. It is heartless for anyone to mix dangerous chemicals together, bottle  them and sell to fellow human beings as original drinks and calling it business. If it is possible, those caught in the act should be given death sentence because they have killed many innocent souls indirectly through their fake drinks.”

On how to recognize fake drinks, Mr Aribisala revealed that fake wines and spirits are often sold at discounted prices.”Buyers must beware and be careful of rushing to buy cheap drinks even as we prepare for yuletide. They can be a red flag. Legitimate wines and spirits are priced according to their quality and production costs, so if the price seems too good to be true, probably it is fake. Consumers should be warned and be more careful of patronizing cheap drinks. Consumers should also patronise reputable stores and authorized distributors instead of buying from street vendors or unlicensed shops, as they are more likely to sell fake or adulterated products.”

Another concerned Nigerian, Mr Olumide Olusegun, blamed the social media, especially the internet for promoting fake drinks and luring gullible citizens to buy at the detriment of their health.

He said: “I want you to know that one of the disadvantages of the social media is the proliferation of fake items including drinks and other consumables because it lacks proper regulation. Despite its numerous advantages, the internet has become a breeding ground for the spread of counterfeit drinks. Online marketplaces, social media platforms, and illicit websites are used for the sale and distribution of fake drinks. These platforms have made it harder to regulate and stop the illicit trade because they are anonymous and easily accessible.”

Speaking on the solution, Olusegun called on NAFDAC and the Consumer Protection Agency to embark on public awareness campaigns to save more lives.

He said: “Consumers need to be better sensitized about the risks associated with counterfeit drinks especially now that Christmas is around the corner. Authority concerned should promote awareness through campaigns that highlight the dangers of consuming fake or illicitly produced drinks and encourage consumers to purchase from reputable sources. Companies and brands who are proud of their products should also embark on public sensitization and let consumers understand how to detect fake drinks.

“Government on its own can discourage fake drinks if those caught in the illicit act in the past are made to face the wrath of the law. The easiest way to discourage evil is to punish those caught in the act. Many people have died from consuming fake drinks because the chemical mixtures are poisonous yet, no one has been made to serve the punishment accordingly. If they’ve been sentencing them to life imprisonment or death, producers of fake drinks would have reduced drastically if not stopped. I want to appeal to the government to stop handling this case with kids’ gloves because many are dying daily due to the consumption of fake drinks,” he said.

A trader who sells wine at Arakale market, Mrs Abosede John, condemned the increasing rate of fake wines and other drinks as she questioned how they find their way into different markets. “I want to know how the fake drinks get into the markets. What happened to those who were caught producing fake drinks in the past? The government should not joke with this because fake drinks often contain substances that are not meant for human consumption and other toxic chemicals. These substances can cause a range of health issues, from nausea, vomiting, organ damage, to  blindness among others.

“Counterfeiters meticulously replicate labels, bottles, and packaging to mimic authentic products, making it challenging for consumers to differentiate between real and fake drinks. As a result, unsuspecting consumers may unknowingly purchase and consume counterfeit drinks, believing them to be genuine. I told some of my customers comparing the price of my wines with others that I cannot reduce the price because I deal with original products. I will also advice consumers to perceive the odour of any drink before consuming. Those that are fake always have different odours from the original but if one is not sure, it is wise to avoid buying drinks or wines from the road side sellers for one’s safety. Though NAFDAC is trying to educate the public against the activities of counterfeiters, but it is not enough. There is an urgent need to come up with better ideas aimed at exposing fake drinks producers because we are gradually moving towards the festive season when fake distillers see as the booming time for their dangerous business, ” she said.