NAFDAC Raids Shops in Rivers, Seizes 120 Bags of Fake Rice

In a joint operation with the producers of Big Bull brand rice, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raided several shops in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, uncovering the large-scale sale of counterfeit rice.

NAFDAC announced the operation on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday, revealing that the raid took place in Woji, Mile 3, and Mile 1 markets in Port Harcourt, where over 120 fake bags of Big Bull Rice were seized.

A key distribution point for the counterfeit products was traced to a shop in the YKC axis of Woji. Inside the shop, officials found large quantities of empty fake Big Bull Rice bags, along with bags of other rice brands such as Cap Rice, Stallion Rice, Tomato Rice, and Mama Pride. A salesgirl, identified as Ogechi Okafor, was arrested at the scene.

The authorities also recovered several items from the shop, including sewing and sealing machines, a generator, a stove, thread, and numerous bags of rice that had already been rebagged.

Pharm. Emmanuel Onogwu, NAFDAC’s State Coordinator, highlighted the differences between genuine Big Bull Rice and its counterfeit versions. He pointed out that authentic Big Bull Rice bags feature a distinct shiny ribbon across the top, a higher-quality bag, and a genuine logo. He also warned that rebagged rice is often sourced from unreliable origins and may be treated with harmful chemicals to enhance its appearance.

The fake rice bags, confiscated from over 10 shops, have been transported to NAFDAC’s Zonal Office for further investigation. The agency has pledged to intensify efforts to combat the sale of counterfeit food products and safeguard consumers from potential health risks.