…Culprits Using Dirty Water to Produce Juice
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps has arrested two women over the alleged production and distribution of adulterated fruit juice at an illegal factory in Aradagun, Badagry area of Lagos State.
The suspects, aged 48 and 50, were arrested during an operation conducted between Saturday, 19 September, and the early hours of Sunday, 20 September, following about five days of surveillance, according to the NSCDC. The operation was carried out with the support of a Nigerian Army formation in the area.
The factory, located on Talabi Onilegbale Street, Aradagun, Olorunda Local Council Development Area, was allegedly producing a fruit drink branded “Barkas Juice.”
The NSCDC said the products were being distributed in Lagos, Benin City in Edo State and other parts of the country.
Speaking in a video released on Tuesday, the Lagos State Commandant of the NSCDC, Adedotun Keshinro, said the operation met resistance from some youths in the community.
“We are parading suspects and exhibits of production, sale, and distribution of fake and adulterated fruit juice,” he said.
“Although not only in the Lagos market, but up to Edo state and other parts of Nigeria, unfortunately, two female suspects have been arrested in the operations. The suspects are between the ages of 48 and 50.”
The corps said operatives found a truck loaded with the products at the premises, while cartons of the drinks and rolls of labels were recovered inside the bungalow where the alleged production took place.
Part of the building was also reportedly being used as a residence.
The NSCDC said a dirty well served as the source of water for the production, while an unclean industrial storage tank was found on the premises. The corps also alleged that children aged between 15 and 16 were being used in the production process.
Keshinro said the products contained sugar, water, additives, dyes, and other coloring substances.
“Most of the products are full of high-level sugar contents, water, additives, dyes, and different colors,” he said.
The NSCDC said it checked the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control registration details for the product and found no record of the “Barkas” brand.
“And a glimpse and check of the NAFDAC portal to check the validity of these products, what we saw there is that the names of these products cannot be found. The name of this fruit juice ‘Barkas’.”
The Guardian, which visited the premises, reported that the product allegedly bore a fraudulent NAFDAC registration number, 01-2166L, and that the factory operated under the name Titi Alubarika Trading Stores Ltd.
The NSCDC said preliminary findings indicated that the drink was produced without real fruit and involved water, sugar, colorants, dyes, and additives. It, however, did not disclose any laboratory test results confirming that the products were harmful.
Suspect: We have been in business for 20 years
One of the arrested women told officials that the business had been operating for about two decades.
“We produce either three or four times a year, and we supply as far as outside Lagos. We have been in this business for as long as 20 years,” she said.
The Guardian identified the primary suspect as Morenikeji Alawiye and reported that she said the business had originally been established by her grandmother. She reportedly claimed that the family initially produced bottled and sachet water before moving into fruit juice production.
Alawiye also said the factory had previously been shut down and that she was attempting to regularise the business before her arrest. She reportedly claimed that a relative working with NAFDAC was helping with the process.
The NSCDC said the factory had been shut down and that investigations were continuing.
The corps added that the suspects would be prosecuted and given the opportunity to defend themselves in court.
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