Police raid secret Juice Factory in Okpoko, arrests masterminds

By lfeanyi Ndukwe ( Awka), Onitsha

A major public health disaster was narrowly averted in Anambra State this week as police operatives uncovered a secret factory producing toxic fake drinks in the heart of Okpoko, Ogbaru Local Government Area.

Acting on intelligence on Tuesday, 3rd September 2025, officers of the Anambra State Police Command attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Awkuzu, stormed a residential building discreetly operating as a manufacturing hub for counterfeit beverages.

In a swift and calculated operation, the team apprehended Chigozie Okafor, a 48-year-old man alleged to be the mastermind behind the illegal production.

The illegal factory had been churning out large volumes of unregistered and harmful soft drinks labeled as “Iyi Obeleagu Juice”, a name falsely designed to inspire trust among unsuspecting consumers.

Authorities revealed that the products, made with unidentified and unhygienic substances, were being bottled under appalling conditions and sold across local markets without the approval or inspection of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

Experts warn that consumption of such toxic substances could lead to organ failure, food poisoning, and long-term health complications, especially among children.

Reacting to the breakthrough, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, fwc, MNIPS, PhD, commended his men for the timely intelligence and efficient operation.

“This arrest is just the beginning. We are going after the entire network. The health and safety of our citizens especially children must never be compromised. The Anambra Police Command is fully committed to defending public health,” the CP declared.

He also warned all individuals and groups engaged in similar illegalities to desist immediately or face the full wrath of the law.

Meanwhile, the suspect, Chigozie Okafor, is currently in police custody and assisting investigators in uncovering other accomplices, distributors, and possible financiers of the operation.

Police sources say further raids are expected in the coming days, as intelligence reports hint at a possible syndicate operating across multiple locations in the South-East.

The recovered fake drinks have been sealed off and will be handed over to NAFDAC for chemical analysis and safe disposal.