The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control, NAFDAC, has promised hard times to producers of fake beverages following the arrest of one Anthony Chidi inside the Mile 3 Market in the Diobu area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

The Public Relations Officer, South-South Zone, NAFDAC, Cyril Monye, disclosed in a statement that Chidi, aged 52 years, was caught inside a dirty shop washing used bottles of various beverages he used in producing the unwholesome drinks and sells to unsuspecting members of the public.

Items found in the shop include dirty empty bottles of different brands of local and foreign alcoholic beverages, gallons/jars of ethanol, washed empty bottles, cocks, packaging materials, various brands of already packaged drinks, funnel fitted with filters, among others.

The agency quoted the suspect as revealing when he started the business saying, he started the illicit business about a year ago, having relocated from Aba in Abia State where he mastered the trade.

The statement said Chidi also said that he gets the labels and packaging materials from Aba while he buys the used bottles within Port Harcourt.

The statement further said the shop was evacuated and everything inside moved to the NAFDAC office while the suspect would be handed over to its Enforcement and Investigation Directorate for further investigation and prosecution.

Oligbu said hard times await those still involved in the illicit production of NAFDAC regulated products.

Speaking earlier, Director, NAFDAC South-South Zone, Chukwuma Oligbu, reiterated the agency’s commitment to clamping down on perpetrators of such illicit acts.

He therefore warned those still involved in adulterating registered products to give up the illegal practice or according to him, they should be prepared to go to jail.