fake dry gin in Akwa IbomPolice Arrest 40-Year-Old Over Alleged Production of Fake Dry Gin in Akwa Ibom
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a 40-year-old man over the alleged production and distribution of fake dry gin in Akwa Ibom, as security operatives intensify efforts to curb the circulation of adulterated alcoholic beverages across the state.
The suspect, identified by police as Ubong Ntiense, was arrested on September 26, 2026, during a stop-and-search operation along Aba Road in Ikot Ekpene.
According to the police, Ntiense is a native of Ibiaku Village in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area and resides along Abak Road.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Akwa Ibom State, DSP Timfon John, disclosed the arrest in a statement released on Monday.
Police said the suspect was allegedly transporting cartons of alcoholic drinks to Essien Udim Local Government Area when operatives intercepted him at about 1:45 p.m.
Police Recover 120 Bottles of Suspected Fake Dry Gin
A search conducted during the operation reportedly led to the recovery of five cartons of suspected fake dry gin in Akwa Ibom.
Police said each carton contained 24 bottles, bringing the total number of recovered drinks to 120 bottles.
The bottles reportedly carried labels identifying the product as “Pointers Special Dry Gin.”
Investigators subsequently took the suspect and the recovered products to the police station for preliminary investigation.
Police alleged that information obtained during questioning linked the suspect to the production of the drinks.
Following the development, operatives reportedly secured a search warrant and searched premises associated with the suspect.
The command said substances and other materials allegedly connected with the production of the drinks were recovered during the search.
The case has raised fresh concerns about the production and circulation of fake dry gin in Akwa Ibom and other adulterated alcoholic beverages that may find their way into shops, drinking establishments and communities.fake dry gin in Akwa Ibom
Police Order Wider Investigation
Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare, has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the case.
According to the command, investigators are expected to determine whether other individuals or distribution networks were involved in the alleged operation.
The investigation is also expected to establish the source of the materials recovered and how widely the suspected products may have been distributed.
Police authorities said the production and distribution of adulterated alcoholic beverages represented a serious public safety concern because consumers could unknowingly purchase products whose ingredients, manufacturing conditions and origins had not been verified.
The command warned producers, distributors, retailers and other persons involved in counterfeit alcoholic drinks to desist from such activities.
It added that intelligence gathering and surveillance would continue across the state to uncover suspected illegal production centres and distribution channels.
The latest arrest also underscores the role of routine police operations such as stop-and-search exercises in detecting products suspected to have been illegally manufactured or distributed.
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Counterfeit Alcohol Remains Public Safety Concern
The circulation of fake dry gin in Akwa Ibom goes beyond questions of trademarks and illegal production.
Counterfeit or adulterated alcoholic beverages can present public health concerns where their ingredients, alcohol concentration and production environment are unknown or unregulated.fake dry gin in Akwa Ibom
This is why regulatory authorities generally advise consumers to examine alcoholic products carefully before purchase and to patronise recognised outlets.
Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has repeatedly taken enforcement action against facilities and markets accused of manufacturing or distributing counterfeit wines, spirits and other beverages.
In January 2025, for instance, NAFDAC announced enforcement action against the Cemetery Market in Aba, Abia State, where the agency said fake wines and alcoholic beverages were being manufactured. The agency said products valued in billions of naira had been affected by its enforcement operations.
That history gives wider context to the latest case involving suspected fake dry gin in Akwa Ibom.
Counterfeit beverage operations may range from unauthorised use of established product labels to the mixing and bottling of unregulated substances for sale as legitimate alcoholic drinks.
Authorities therefore face the challenge not only of identifying production points but also of tracing distribution networks through wholesalers, retailers and informal markets.fake dry gin in Akwa Ibom
Consumers Urged to Exercise Caution
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command advised residents to exercise caution when purchasing alcoholic beverages.
Consumers were also encouraged to report suspicious manufacturing, packaging or distribution activities to the police or appropriate regulatory agencies.
For residents, particular attention to seals, labels, product registration details and the general appearance of packaged drinks can help raise questions where products appear suspicious.
However, determining whether an alcoholic product is genuine or safe ultimately requires proper regulatory inspection and laboratory testing.
The discovery of suspected fake dry gin in Akwa Ibom therefore remains an allegation under investigation, and laboratory or regulatory findings would be important in establishing the exact composition and status of the recovered drinks.
Investigation Continues
Police said investigations into the case would continue with a view to identifying anyone else allegedly connected with the production or movement of the recovered products.
The suspect has not been reported convicted of any offence in connection with the matter. The allegations against him therefore remain subject to investigation and the judicial process.
The arrest nevertheless places renewed attention on the wider challenge of counterfeit alcoholic beverages and the risks associated with products produced outside recognised regulatory systems.
As police expand their investigation, authorities will be seeking to determine whether the 120 recovered bottles of suspected fake dry gin in Akwa Ibom were part of a larger production and distribution operation.
For consumers, the case is another reminder of the need to buy alcoholic beverages from credible sources and report products whose packaging, seals or origins appear suspicious.
For regulators and law enforcement agencies, the challenge remains identifying illegal production points early enough to prevent potentially unsafe products from reaching consumers.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has said it will continue surveillance and intelligence-led operations against persons suspected of producing and circulating counterfeit alcoholic beverages across the state.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a 40-year-old man over the alleged production and distribution of fake dry gin in Akwa Ibom, as security operatives intensify efforts to curb the circulation of adulterated alcoholic beverages across the state.
The suspect, identified by police as Ubong Ntiense, was arrested on September 26, 2026, during a stop-and-search operation along Aba Road in Ikot Ekpene.
According to the police, Ntiense is a native of Ibiaku Village in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area and resides along Abak Road.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Akwa Ibom State, DSP Timfon John, disclosed the arrest in a statement released on Monday.
Police said the suspect was allegedly transporting cartons of alcoholic drinks to Essien Udim Local Government Area when operatives intercepted him at about 1:45 p.m.
Police Recover 120 Bottles of Suspected Fake Dry Gin
A search conducted during the operation reportedly led to the recovery of five cartons of suspected fake dry gin in Akwa Ibom.
Police said each carton contained 24 bottles, bringing the total number of recovered drinks to 120 bottles.
The bottles reportedly carried labels identifying the product as “Pointers Special Dry Gin.”
Investigators subsequently took the suspect and the recovered products to the police station for preliminary investigation.
Police alleged that information obtained during questioning linked the suspect to the production of the drinks.
Following the development, operatives reportedly secured a search warrant and searched premises associated with the suspect.
The command said substances and other materials allegedly connected with the production of the drinks were recovered during the search.
The case has raised fresh concerns about the production and circulation of fake dry gin in Akwa Ibom and other adulterated alcoholic beverages that may find their way into shops, drinking establishments and communities.
Police Order Wider Investigation
Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare, has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the case.
According to the command, investigators are expected to determine whether other individuals or distribution networks were involved in the alleged operation.
The investigation is also expected to establish the source of the materials recovered and how widely the suspected products may have been distributed.
Police authorities said the production and distribution of adulterated alcoholic beverages represented a serious public safety concern because consumers could unknowingly purchase products whose ingredients, manufacturing conditions and origins had not been verified.
The command warned producers, distributors, retailers and other persons involved in counterfeit alcoholic drinks to desist from such activities.
It added that intelligence gathering and surveillance would continue across the state to uncover suspected illegal production centres and distribution channels.
The latest arrest also underscores the role of routine police operations such as stop-and-search exercises in detecting products suspected to have been illegally manufactured or distributed.
Counterfeit Alcohol Remains Public Safety Concern
The circulation of fake dry gin in Akwa Ibom goes beyond questions of trademarks and illegal production.
Counterfeit or adulterated alcoholic beverages can present public health concerns where their ingredients, alcohol concentration and production environment are unknown or unregulated.
This is why regulatory authorities generally advise consumers to examine alcoholic products carefully before purchase and to patronise recognised outlets.
Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has repeatedly taken enforcement action against facilities and markets accused of manufacturing or distributing counterfeit wines, spirits and other beverages.
In January 2025, for instance, NAFDAC announced enforcement action against the Cemetery Market in Aba, Abia State, where the agency said fake wines and alcoholic beverages were being manufactured. The agency said products valued in billions of naira had been affected by its enforcement operations.
That history gives wider context to the latest case involving suspected fake dry gin in Akwa Ibom.
Counterfeit beverage operations may range from unauthorised use of established product labels to the mixing and bottling of unregulated substances for sale as legitimate alcoholic drinks.
Authorities therefore face the challenge not only of identifying production points but also of tracing distribution networks through wholesalers, retailers and informal markets.
Consumers Urged to Exercise Caution
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command advised residents to exercise caution when purchasing alcoholic beverages.
Consumers were also encouraged to report suspicious manufacturing, packaging or distribution activities to the police or appropriate regulatory agencies.
For residents, particular attention to seals, labels, product registration details and the general appearance of packaged drinks can help raise questions where products appear suspicious.
However, determining whether an alcoholic product is genuine or safe ultimately requires proper regulatory inspection and laboratory testing.
The discovery of suspected fake dry gin in Akwa Ibom therefore remains an allegation under investigation, and laboratory or regulatory findings would be important in establishing the exact composition and status of the recovered drinks.
Investigation Continues
Police said investigations into the case would continue with a view to identifying anyone else allegedly connected with the production or movement of the recovered products.
The suspect has not been reported convicted of any offence in connection with the matter. The allegations against him therefore remain subject to investigation and the judicial process.
The arrest nevertheless places renewed attention on the wider challenge of counterfeit alcoholic beverages and the risks associated with products produced outside recognised regulatory systems.
As police expand their investigation, authorities will be seeking to determine whether the 120 recovered bottles of suspected fake dry gin in Akwa Ibom were part of a larger production and distribution operation.
For consumers, the case is another reminder of the need to buy alcoholic beverages from credible sources and report products whose packaging, seals or origins appear suspicious.
For regulators and law enforcement agencies, the challenge remains identifying illegal production points early enough to prevent potentially unsafe products from reaching consumers.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has said it will continue surveillance and intelligence-led operations against persons suspected of producing and circulating counterfeit alcoholic beverages across the state.
fake dry gin in Akwa Ibom
