NAFDAC has uncovered a warehouse containing packaging materials for suspected falsified medicines and Gordon’s Gin at the Tools and Hardware Complex of the Trade Fair Complex in Lagos, raising fresh concerns about the use of established beverage brands in illicit packaging operations. The discovery was made during an enforcement operation on Saturday, 14 November 2026, following intelligence gathered by the agency.
Packaging materials recovered
The materials recovered included packaging bearing the names of Augmentin 625mg tablets and AmpliClose capsules, medicine leaflets and other product packaging. NAFDAC officials also displayed bottle caps carrying the Gordon’s Gin brand. The agency said the materials were not supplied by the original manufacturers and identified differences between the recovered Augmentin packaging and that used by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the medicine’s manufacturer. The discovery raises concerns about the possible use of established product identities to package falsified goods.
Trade Fair faces repeat scrutiny
The discovery comes a month after NAFDAC raided another location within the Trade Fair Complex, uncovering more than 20 illegal stores allegedly involved in counterfeiting alcoholic beverages, repackaging expired drinks and storing banned imported products. Two suspects were arrested, while the agency valued the products seized and evacuated at more than ₦2 billion. The October operation involved suspected wine and spirits counterfeiting, making the latest discovery particularly relevant to beverage manufacturers and brand owners. The earlier operation exposed the scale of the challenge facing legitimate operators.
The Lagos International Trade Fair Complex Management Board subsequently condemned the use of its premises for counterfeit production and said investigations had commenced. Its chief executive, Veronica Safiya Ndanusa, pledged cooperation with regulatory and law enforcement agencies to prevent the complex from being used for illegal activities. The latest discovery raises questions about how effectively those measures are being implemented and whether the premises are receiving adequate monitoring. The management’s response had followed the October arrests.
Brand owners face exposure
For beverage companies, the appearance of Gordon’s Gin-branded bottle caps among materials recovered in the latest operation presents a brand-protection concern. Counterfeit packaging can enable unauthorised operators to make products appear connected to established manufacturers, potentially exposing consumers to unknown ingredients while damaging legitimate distributors, retailers and brand owners. However, NAFDAC has not established that counterfeit Gordon’s Gin was produced at this particular warehouse or identified the owners of the recovered materials.
Investigation remains open
NAFDAC has not disclosed the quantity of packaging materials recovered, the identities of those responsible, whether arrests were made or whether finished alcoholic beverages were found at this particular location. The discovery should therefore be distinguished from the October counterfeit alcohol operation, where the agency confirmed arrests and a seizure valuation. The investigation will need to establish the intended use of the Gordon’s Gin materials and trace the individuals or businesses behind their storage.
For consumers and legitimate beverage operators, the concern is whether enforcement can extend beyond discovering illegal storage locations to identifying the suppliers, manufacturers and distribution networks that allow falsified products to reach the market.
