NSCDC Raids Unregistered Juice Factory in Lagos Producing ‘Barkas Juice,’ Arrests Culprits, Rescues Minors

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Command, has busted an illegal juice factory in Badagry where an adulterated fruit drink branded *’Barkas Juice’ was allegedly being produced in unhygienic conditions and distributed across Lagos and other parts of Nigeria. The operation was carried out at Aradagun, Badagry, on Talabi Onilegbale Street in Olorunda LCDA, between 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 19 and the early hours of Sunday, September 20, 2026. According to the NSCDC, operatives from the Badagry Divisional Headquarters acted after five days of surveillance following intelligence received through the Command’s community engagement network. The raid was conducted in collaboration with a Nigerian Army formation in the area after some youths in the community allegedly attempted to resist the operation.During the raid, two female suspects, aged 48 and 50, were arrested at the premises. The 48-year-old was identified as the principal suspect and alleged owner of the facility. The NSCDC said the factory was operating illegally under the name Titi Alubarika Trading Stores Ltd and was not registered with any regulatory agency. The product, ‘Barkas Juice’ or ‘Barka Juice’ as popularly called in markets, was being marketed with a suspected fake National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) registration number 01-2166L. Preliminary investigation revealed that the drink contained *no real fruit. The Corps alleged that production involved mixing untreated water, industrial sugar, synthetic chemical flavourings, artificial sweeteners, colourants, dyes, and chemical preservatives. “The alleged fake fruit juice production involves mixing water, synthetic chemical flavourings, industrial sweeteners, artificial colourants, and chemical preservatives and completely omitting real fruit,” the NSCDC said in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, SC Oluwaseun Abolurin, on behalf of the Lagos State Commandant, Commandant Adedotun Keshinro.items recovered from the bungalow, which was reportedly being used both as a factory and residence, included:
– A truck loaded with cartons of the finished product awaiting distribution
– Several cartons of Barkas Juice and rolls of product labels
– Industrial production machinery, chemicals, drums and gas cylinders
– A dirty well which operatives said was the source of water for production
– An unclean industrial storage tank
The NSCDC also said it rescued minors aged between 15 and 16 who were allegedly engaged in unauthorised labour at the facility. The Command alleged that the products were already being distributed to major markets in Lagos, Benin City in Edo State, and other parts of the country. Suspect: “I Inherited It From My Grandmother” During preliminary questioning, the lead suspect reportedly confessed that the business was a family inheritance. She claimed her grandmother initially started a sachet water business before expanding into Barkas Juice about 20 years ago, which she later inherited. Commandant Adedotun Keshinro has ordered the immediate shutdown of the factory and said the suspects will undergo further investigation and prosecution in accordance with the law. He added that the Command will work with NAFDAC and other relevant agencies to trace already distributed products. The operation was led by the Divisional Officer of Badagry Division, Chief Superintendent of Corps (CSC) Ekunola Gbenga Abraham, who assumed leadership of the division in February 2025. The Command said Ekunola has led several operations in the Badagry corridor, including seizure of over 6,000 litres of smuggled PMS and rescue of over 24 victims of human trafficking between May and June 2026. The NSCDC warned consumers to check for NAFDAC registration and report suspicious production activities in their communities.