On Monday, the [National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)](https://www.nafdac.gov.ng/) announced that it had busted a suspected counterfeit whisky manufacturing site in [Aba](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aba,_Abia), [Abia State](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abia_State), seizing equipment and materials valued at over ₦500 million after the operator fled the scene.
**What prompted the raid?**
The operation was launched after credible intelligence pointed to illegal production activities at No. 25 Omenazu Street. Enforcement officers arrived to find the premises operating under unhygienic conditions.
**What was left behind by the suspect?**
The agency reported that the fleeing operator abandoned a vehicle containing packaging labelled as Sir Edwards Scotch Whisky and Scottish Hills Whisky, together with empty bottles and a drum holding roughly 200 litres of liquid.
> "Counterfeit packaging materials bearing the names of Sir Edwards Scotch > Whisky and Scottish Hills Whisky, empty bottles and a drum containing > approximately 200 litres of liquid were found," the statement read.
**What items were recovered inside the factory?**
Inspectors uncovered a range of apparatus likely intended for the illicit bottling and distribution of the fake spirits, including bottle caps, sealing machines, cartons, empty bottles and storage tanks filled with various liquid concoctions.
**Were there any hazardous materials?**
The search also yielded dirty sieves, plastic buckets and 200‑litre drums containing ethanol, as well as tree bark immersed in ethanol, raising serious concerns about potential contamination and health risks for any consumer.
**What is the estimated value of the seized assets?**
NAFDAC placed the total worth of the recovered equipment, packaging supplies and other components at more than ₦500 million, highlighting the scale of the illegal operation.
**How can the public assist?**
The agency urged citizens to provide credible information on suspected illegal manufacturing activities to support its enforcement efforts.