The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Thursday sealed a factory and eight shops in Nasarawa State for packaging, selling and distributing counterfeit rice.
The Investigation and Enforcement Taskforce of the agency, which swung into action following an intelligence report, noted that about N5bn worth of bags of counterfeit rice were seized.
The factory, Ninjur Ventures, concealed behind a residential building, and located at 44 Abacha Road in Karu, Nasarawa state, was sealed for packaging, distributing and selling counterfeit rice along with relevant documents.
The products seized by NAFDAC contained counterfeit bags of rice and empty sacks bearing popular brand names such as Royal Stallion, Big Bull, Mama’s Choice, Optimum, and Ultimate Gold, in sizes of 25kg and 50kg.
One of the workers at the factory, Ms. Gift Thomas was arrested by the agency.
However, when questioned about the discovery of new branded bags in the warehouse, Thomas continued to deny responsibility, suggesting that the bags were from other sources and that the factory also housed non-employees.
She claimed that the factory closed on Tuesday and denied supplying rice recently, despite evidence to the contrary.
Meanwhile, the factory owner identified as Eze Dike, was absent during the raid.
Eight shops on Old Karu Road in Nasarawa state were sealed for packaging and selling counterfeit rice.
The PUNCH reports that apart from Thomas, two shop owners were arrested for packaging, and selling counterfeit rice.
Speaking with journalists after the enforcement exercise, the Director of NAFDAC in the Federal Capital Territory, Kenneth Azikiwe stated that the nationwide enforcement exercise was directed by the Director General of the agency, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, to ensure that all counterfeited food products in circulation is mopped up.
“As you can see from the whole exercise, you can see the packaging material that are used for the counterfeiting of these products. So for us, for us in NAFDAC, we implement zero tolerance to counterfeiting, faking, and to ensure that only safe, good quality, wholesome food products are made available to Nigerians during this yuletide season and beyond.
“The counterfeited products have been in the market for some time. We got information through intelligence and complaints from the manufacturers. We found out that there are popular brands which are being counterfeited. Some of the manufacturers wrote complaints to us and also in the course of our job, we got intelligence to know exactly where these criminal elements are, and that is why we have come here today to fish them out.
“From what you can see from the Karu manufacturing factory we went, the packaging materials of different brands were seen. They package these food products and sell to unsuspecting Nigerians so that the unsuspecting Nigerians will believe that those brands are really what they are consuming. These criminal elements will definitely face the full wrath of the law.”
Azikiwe added that the estimated street value of the counterfeited bags of rice seized so far is N5bn.
“We did not start this exercise today. We have about 400 bags already in Wuse market which we have already put on hold and seized from those involved in it, and we have the ones we have seized here. But roughly we are putting the quantity of rice and counterfeited products that we have seized to about N5bn.
“It’s a nationwide operation and it’s going to continue, because those criminal elements are not resting. From the total number of bags we have seized, they are mainly 25 kgs and 50 kgs, and they are about 1,600 bags. The factory visited was built behind a residential facility where they conceal their activity, but the individuals involved will face the full wrath of the law in line with NAFDAC’s regulation.
“My advice to Nigerians is that they should know the source where they are buying their food products, ensure that the food products you are buying are registered by NAFDAC, ensure that the aesthetic presentation of the products are good, look at the batch information and know the source from where you are buying these things, buy from reputable stores, supermarkets and distributors that are selling these products.”
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