THE Anambra State Police Command has uncovered an illegal factory producing fake soft drinks in Okpoko, Ogbaru Local Government Area.
Operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, raided the premises on 3rd September and discovered several cartons of counterfeit beverages branded as Iyi Obeleagu Juice.
One suspect, 48-year-old Chigozie Okafor, was arrested at the scene. Police confirmed that the drinks were being manufactured without approval from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
According to the Command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the products were highly toxic and posed a grave danger to both adults and children.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has ordered a thorough investigation to track down other individuals connected to the operation. He also warned that the Command would not tolerate any criminal acts that endanger public health.
This is not the first time authorities have disrupted such illicit activities in the state. In October 2024, a joint task force raided an illegal wine factory in Onitsha, where counterfeit exotic wines were being produced and distributed in large quantities. Seven suspects were arrested in connection with that case.
