By Olasunkanmi Akoni
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Lagos State Command, on Monday, arrested two female suspects (names withheld) between the ages of 48 and 50, over alleged production of fake fruit juice known as ‘Barkas Juice.’
The alleged fake fruit juice production involves mixing water, synthetic chemical flavourings, industrial sweeteners, artificial colourants, and chemical preservatives and completely omitting real fruit.
The suspects were rounded up when operatives of the Badagry Command, after about five days of surveillance, working in close knit with the Nigerian Army formation in the area, repelled all threats of resistance by some violent, unscrupulous youthful elements attempting to stop them from carrying out a swift, seamless and clinical operation which later led to the bust of the fake fruit juice factory in Badagry.
The State Commandant, NSCDC, Lagos State Command, Adedotun Keshinro, said the consistent community engagements being organised to sensitise stakeholders in various communities in the state have continued to build trust and lasting friendship between the general public and the NSCDC in Lagos State, resulting in ceaseless information and intelligence sharing with the Command’s formations in the state.
“As a result of the above, operatives of the Corps swiftly moves in to bust the illegal factory at 09:00PM on Saturday, 19 and Sunday, 20, September, 2026 at midnight hours where two female suspects were caught in the act immediately.
“The lead suspect and owner of the business ( name withheld ), aged 48 confessed that her grandmother started off with water production, which later upgraded to Barkas fruit juice production inherited from her grandmother about 20 years ago,” Keshinro stated.
However, preliminary investigation revealed that the fake Barkas juice contained high sugar content, water, colourants, dyes and additives without the real fruit which poses serious health threat to the human body.
Unfortunately, the negative health consequences of the consumption of fake products such as Barkas fruit juice include: Type 2 diabetes, liver and kidney failure, among other terminal diseases.
“Also, the production, sale and distribution of this fake fruit juice with a supposedly fake National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC NO: 01 – 2166L is done under a high level unhygienic environment with wide distribution to Lagos markets, Benin City in Edo State and many other States of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Keshinro stated.
Exhibits recovered at the crime scene include: truck, cartons of Barkas fake fruit juice, machineries, chemicals, drums, gas cylinder among others.
The State Commandant, Keshinro, affirmed that the suspects would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
He also directed that the unregistered factory used for the production of the adulterated fruit juice be shut down immediately to avert the adverse effects it may pose on unsuspecting consumers.
Keshinro also stated that the command will collaborate with NAFDAC and relevant bodies to ensure that justice is served in this matter.
The post NSCDC busts fake juice factory in Badagry, nabs 2 suspects appeared first on Vanguard News.