RismadarVoice Reporters
September 21, 2026
The Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested two women over alleged production and distribution of adulterated fruit juice in Badagry, Lagos State.
The suspects, whose identities were withheld by the command, are aged between 48 and 50 and were allegedly involved in the production of a fake fruit drink branded as “Barkas Juice.”
The NSCDC said the operation followed about five days of surveillance by its Badagry Command, carried out in collaboration with a Nigerian Army formation in the area.
According to the command, operatives moved in on the suspected factory between Saturday, September 19, and the early hours of Sunday, September 20, 2026, after overcoming attempts by some youths to resist the operation.
The Lagos State NSCDC Commandant, Adedotun Keshinro, said intelligence provided by members of the public contributed to the successful raid.
He attributed the flow of information to sustained community engagement initiatives by the command across Lagos State.
Keshinro said the suspects were allegedly caught producing the fruit drink during the operation.
He added that the alleged owner of the business, a 48-year-old woman, told investigators that the enterprise had been inherited from her grandmother, who initially produced water before expanding into fruit juice production.
According to the command, preliminary investigations indicated that the seized product contained water, high levels of sugar, artificial colourants, dyes and other additives, rather than real fruit.
The NSCDC said the alleged production process took place in an unhygienic environment and that the products were distributed to markets in Lagos, Benin City, Edo State, and other parts of the country.
The command also alleged that the products carried a purportedly fake NAFDAC registration number.
Keshinro warned that consumption of adulterated food and beverages could expose consumers to serious health risks, stressing the need for members of the public to be vigilant when purchasing packaged products.
Items recovered during the operation included a truck, cartons of the suspected adulterated fruit juice, production machinery, chemicals, drums and a gas cylinder.
The NSCDC said the suspected factory had been operating without proper registration and ordered its immediate closure.
Keshinro said the two suspects would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
He added that the command would work with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and other relevant agencies to investigate the case and ensure that appropriate legal action was taken.
The NSCDC also urged members of the public to continue providing credible information about suspected illegal production facilities and other activities that could endanger public health.
