A suspected fake fruit juice factory has been busted in Badagry, Lagos State, with two women arrested over the alleged production and distribution of the drinks.
The suspects, aged 48 and 50, were arrested when operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, raided the facility at Onilegbale, Alabi Aradagun.
The NSCDC said the women allegedly employed teenagers between 15 and 16 years to produce and package the drinks.
The products, branded “Barkas Juice,” were allegedly being supplied to markets in Lagos, Benin City, Edo State, and other parts of the country.
According to the Corps, preliminary checks showed that the drinks contained high levels of sugar, water, colourants, dyes and additives, without real fruit.
The operation followed about five days of surveillance by NSCDC personnel, who worked with a Nigerian Army formation in the area.
Among the items recovered from the factory were cartons of the alleged fake juice, a truck, machinery, chemicals, drums and a gas cylinder.
The NSCDC also alleged that the product was being sold with a NAFDAC registration number suspected to be fake.
One of the suspects reportedly claimed that the business was started by her grandmother about 20 years ago and was originally involved in water production before expanding into fruit juice.
She said the factory had previously been registered but was later shut down following some challenges.
The suspect also claimed that production was not carried out every day and that the products were supplied outside Lagos only a few times a year.
The NSCDC said further investigation would be conducted, while the suspects would face prosecution in accordance with the law.
The command also ordered the immediate closure of the factory to prevent further distribution of the alleged adulterated products.
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