Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have raided an illegal beverage manufacturing facility in the Aradagun area of Badagry, Lagos State, arresting two female suspects in connection with the unapproved operation.
The night raid took place around 9:00 p.m. on September 19, 2026, on Talabi Onilegbale Street in the Olorunda Local Council Development Area (LCDA). The suspects, aged 48 and 50, were taken into custody by officers from the NSCDC Badagry Divisional Headquarters.
Fake NAFDAC registration and unhygienic conditions
According to the NSCDC, the facility operated without official registration while producing a drink branded as “Barkas Juice” under the business name Titi Alubarika Trading Stores Ltd.
The security agency revealed several critical findings from the raid:
Fraudulent approval number: The product displayed a fake NAFDAC registration number (01-2166L). NAFDAC authorities subsequently confirmed the beverage has no valid registration.
Unsanitary water source: Production was being carried out inside a residential bungalow using water drawn from an unclean open well and stored in a contaminated industrial tank.
Distribution network: A heavy-duty truck loaded with cartons of the drink was impounded at the site, with evidence showing the product was being distributed across Edo State and other parts of the country.
The spokesman for the Lagos State Command, Oluwaseun Abolurin, noted that officers faced resistance from local youths during the operation, requiring backup from the Nigerian Army to secure the premises and safely evacuate evidence.
Suspect claims 20-year history and export plans
Countering the allegations, the main suspect, Morenikeji Alawiye, claimed the family business was originally established by her grandmother nearly two decades ago as a sachet and bottled water enterprise.
Alawiye stated that while the factory had been sealed in the past, she was actively attempting to regularize its legal status through a contact at NAFDAC, adding that the recent production run was intended for a prospective buyer in The Gambia.
The NSCDC confirmed that both suspects will be handed over to relevant regulatory and judicial bodies upon the conclusion of ongoing investigations.
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