Awka, Nigeria | September 8, 2025 – The Anambra State Police Command has uncovered and shut down an illegal factory in Okpoko, Ogbaru Local Government Area, that was producing counterfeit soft drinks under unhygienic conditions.
Police spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the raid, stating that the operation followed credible intelligence reports. He explained that officers stormed the facility, which was being run without regulatory approval, and seized large quantities of already bottled fake drinks, production equipment, and harmful chemical substances.
Ikenga disclosed that several suspects were arrested at the scene and are currently in custody, assisting police investigations. He warned that consuming such unregulated products posed serious health risks, including food poisoning and long-term health complications.
“The Command remains committed to protecting lives by ensuring that criminal elements engaged in the production and sale of harmful consumables are brought to justice,” the statement read.
Residents of Okpoko commended the police for the intervention, describing the discovery as a relief in a community where concerns had been growing over the circulation of suspiciously branded soft drinks.
The suspects will be charged to court upon completion of investigations, while the police pledged to intensify surveillance on food and beverage outlets across the state.
