The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Lagos State Command, has busted an illegal factory in the Badagry area of Lagos State where adulterated fruit juice, branded as “Barkas Juice,” was allegedly being produced
Two women, aged 48 and 50, were arrested in connection with the operation.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Oluwaseun Abolurin, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, saying the suspects were arrested after operatives from the Badagry area conducted about five days of surveillance in collaboration with a Nigerian Army formation in the area.
According to the NSCDC, preliminary investigation showed that the product contained high levels of sugar, water, colourants, dyes and additives, without real fruit.
The Corps said the juice was produced in a highly unhygienic environment and distributed to markets in Lagos, Benin City, Edo State, and other parts of the country.
It added that the product was being marketed with a NAFDAC registration number, 01-2166L, which it suspected was fake.
Items recovered from the factory included a truck, cartons of the Barkas fruit juice, machinery, chemicals, drums and a gas cylinder.
The Corps said the raid was conducted between 9pm on Saturday and midnight on Sunday.
It further stated that preliminary investigation showed that the product contained high levels of sugar, water, colourants, dyes and additives, which it described as harmful to human health.
The statement added that the alleged consumption of fake products such as the juice could have serious health consequences, including Type 2 diabetes and liver and kidney failure.
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It’s always in Badagry