By Samuel Ike, Abuja

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Command, has uncovered a suspected illegal fruit juice production facility in Badagry, Lagos State, and arrested two female suspects in connection with the operation.The raid, carried out at Talabi Onilegbale Street in Aradagun, Olorunda Local Council Development Area, followed intelligence reports and led to the discovery of a facility allegedly involved in the production, packaging and distribution of unregistered fruit juice products branded as “Barkas Juice.”Lagos State Commandant of the NSCDC, Adedotun Keshinro, and the command’s spokesperson, Oluwaseun Abolurin, disclosed that operatives encountered resistance from some youths in the area during the operation, which was conducted on September 19, 2026.According to the Corps, preliminary investigations revealed that underage children, reportedly between the ages of 15 and 16, were engaged in activities connected to the production process. The command also alleged that the products were distributed not only within Lagos State but to other parts of the country.During the raid, officers recovered large quantities of packaged drinks, rolls of product labels and a truck reportedly loaded with products awaiting distribution. The facility, located within a residential bungalow, was allegedly being used for both production and accommodation purposes.The NSCDC further raised concerns over the sanitary conditions of the premises, alleging that water used in the production process was sourced from a dirty well within the compound. An industrial storage tank found at the site was also described as unhygienic.Speaking at the scene, Keshinro said the operation targeted the production, sale and distribution of suspected fake and adulterated fruit juice products. He alleged that checks carried out on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) database did not show evidence of registration for the products under investigation.He stated that the two female suspects arrested during the operation were aged between 48 and 50 years, adding that investigations were ongoing to determine the full scope of the alleged illegal activities.One of the suspects, who spoke during questioning, admitted that production was carried out periodically and claimed that the business had been in operation for about two decades, with products supplied to locations beyond Lagos State.The NSCDC said further details would be made available as investigations progress, noting that the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of its inquiry.The command reiterated its commitment to protecting public health and consumer safety by clamping down on the production and distribution of suspected counterfeit and substandard products across the state.