During a recent raid in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, officials from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) uncovered a significant amount of counterfeit rice. The operation targeted shops in Woji, Mile 3, and Mile 1 markets, revealing a large-scale distribution network of fake Big Bull Rice.
The raid exposed a shop in Woji serving as a hub for the counterfeit rice, where officials found numerous empty bogus Big Bull Rice bags alongside other brands like Cap Rice, Stallion Rice, Tomato Rice, and Mama Pride. A salesgirl named Ogechi Okafor was apprehended at the scene, with items like sewing and sealing machines, a generator, a stove, thread, and rebagged rice recovered from the shop.
NAFDAC’s Rivers State Coordinator, Emmanuel Onogwu, emphasized the distinctive features of authentic Big Bull Rice, such as a shiny ribbon across the top, superior bag quality, and a genuine logo. Onogwu cautioned about the risks associated with rebagged rice, often sourced questionably and potentially treated with harmful chemicals to enhance its appearance.
In total, over 120 counterfeit rice bags were confiscated from more than 10 shops and taken to the NAFDAC Zonal Office for further investigation. The agency’s swift action aims to safeguard consumers from the dangers posed by fake food products in the market.