Lagos producer of fake alcoholic drinks arrested

Abiodun oba |

A Lagos based fake alcoholic drinks producer has been arrested by operatives of Lagos State Police Command, led by the Divisional Police Officer, Pen Cinema Division, SP Pius Edobor.

The suspect Emmanuel Nwodu, 38, of Fagba was arrested by the team along Moshalashi market, Sango Agege, with two cartons of alcoholic drinks suspected to be adulterated.

On interrogation, the suspect confessed that he produces the drinks in his one-room shop at Moshalashi market, Agege.

He later led operatives to the said shop at Moshalashi market where he concocts the drinks.

A search warrant was executed and the following items were recovered therein: two 30 litres of chemical suspected to be ethanol, two cartons of Elders Aromatic Schnapps suspected to be fake, fifty one (51) small bottles of Chelsea dry gin suspected to be fake, thirty-five (35) pieces of Chelsea cork, five(5) labels of Lords, Chelsea and Elders alcoholic drinks.

The suspect was charged to court on Wednesday.

Recall that on April 3, 2018, at Ajuwon market, Mushin, the Command arrested and prosecuted a 55-year-old trader, Benjamin Ojukwu, involved in the production and distribution of fake wine and alcoholic drinks.

Also, on April 11, 2018, the Commissioner of a police, CP Edgal Imohimi, led operatives to arrest the owners of an illegal brewery, valued at over one hundred and twenty million Naira (N120, 000,000.00) where fake stout and malt drinks were produced at Igbogbo Bayeku area of Ikorodu. The factory was subsequently closed by the authorities.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State has directed all Area Commanders Divisional Police Officers and Heads of investigating outfits in the Command to take the issue of public safety and security seriously by looking out for those behind this type of trade and ensure their arrest and prosecution. He hinted that the preponderance of kidney diseases and other diseases of the vital organs, may not be unconnected with the intake of these adulterated products produced by these unscrupulous individuals.