Businessman Arrested For Large Scale Adulteration
By Odita Sunday
Detectives attached to FCID, Alagbon annex, over the weekend recorded a major breakthrough in the fight against adulteration with the arrest of a Lagos-based businessman for his alleged involvement in the adulteration of major cosmetic products in the country.
The arrest of the 45-year-old businessman, which was described as a major breakthrough in recent times, was carried out by a combined team of detectives at FCID and officers of NAFDAC monitoring unit.
Adulterated goods of different brands worth over N10 billion were seized by the team of detectives during the raid on his Festac and Trade Fair offices in Lagos.
The arrested businessman is the CEO of a holding and investment company which he allegedly used to front for patented products made in foreign countries.
Police sources said the cat was let out of the bag after marketers of a popular body cleanser and soap complained about how the fake copies of the product have flooded the market.
Owners of the products repeatedly complained to the police and NAFDAC who swung into action by tracing the fake goods. They discovered the fake in large quantities at a hidden warehouse in Alaba market, which were later seized. Other types of fake product discovered include Asepso antiseptic soap, 5-way beauty care body cream and intensive body lotion.
Some of the fake products already loaded into containers for distribution to other parts of the country were also intercepted by the detectives and NAFDAC officials, while efforts are in top gear to trace the location of another batch of container loads of the fake products which the suspect smuggled into the country through the Seme border.
NAFDAC's spokesman, Mrs Christianah Obiziakwo confirmed the story, stating that the suspect was arrested by a combined team of police and NAFDAC enforcement officers.
FCID spokesman, Mr Achibong, confirmed the detention of the suspect at Alagbon, adding that he was granted bail last Thursday.
