By ANAYO OKOLI
UMUAHIA—EIGHT suspects including one female, believed to be dealers in fake and adulterated products were yesterday paraded by the Abia State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC. The Command also impounded fake consumer products at a warehouse in Eziukwu Cemetery Market, Aba.
Among the impounded products were Mobil Insecticide, St. Lauren Wine, Seaman Schnapps, Seaman's Branded cups, 5 Alive wine, Eva wine, Chelsea London Dry Gin and Mc Dowell's Whisky, Squadron Blended Dark Rum, Bacchus Wine and Milo.
Handing over the suspects and the fake products to National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, the Abia State Commandant of NSCDC, Mr. Nathaniel Ubong, said the suspects were apprehended by his men following a tip off.
According to him, his men met very hostile environment during the raid forcing them to retreat.
Ubong said "We have not recovered half of the things we discovered at the production site because the crowd that was in sympathy with those arrested became volatile and threw stones at our men. We decided to retreat in order to avoid crisis."
Receiving the suspects, the impounded products and the investigation file, the Deputy Director, Aba Special zone of NAFDAC, Mr. Festus Anumba, decried the proliferation of adulterated consumer goods in Aba and described the situation as "worrisome".
Anumba who commended the NSCDC for its effort also called on other security agencies to join hands in the war against fake and adulterated products.
"We have been doing that and we will continue to do it. But there should also be a synergy between security agencies to get the fake products out of the markets", Anumba.
Vanguard Nigeria