“Counterfeiters Are Killing People” — SWAN Raises Alarm, Seeks Media Partnership to Combat Illicit Alcohol Trade

The Spirits and Wines Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has called on journalists to play a more active role in tackling the growing menace of illicit alcohol trade in the country.

The Director-General of SWAN, Mr. Tony Okwoju, made the appeal while speaking as a guest at the Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria (BJAN)’s monthly breakfast roundtable held on Friday, March 27, in Lagos.

The session provided a platform for engagement between the association and the media, with a focus on strengthening responsible reporting around illicit trade. Okwoju emphasised that accurate and sustained media coverage is critical to protecting consumers, preserving industry integrity, and addressing significant revenue losses to the government.

He also announced a one-day stakeholders’ workshop scheduled for April 22, 2026, which will convene enforcement agencies and key industry players to develop actionable strategies against illicit trade.

According to SWAN, the rise in counterfeit alcoholic products poses a threefold threat—eroding government revenue, undermining private sector investments, and endangering public health.

Citing a Deloitte report, Okwoju disclosed that Nigeria loses an estimated ₦472 billion annually to illicit alcohol trade, which accounts for about 40 percent of the market.

He warned that counterfeiters increasingly substitute ethanol with methanol, a toxic industrial chemical that is colourless and difficult to detect in drinks. Consumption of methanol, he said, can result in blindness, organ failure, or death.

“These counterfeiters are not just faking brands; they are endangering lives,” he stressed.

Okwoju further attributed the persistence of illicit trade to weak enforcement and low public awareness, especially across major commercial centres.

To address the challenge, he said SWAN members have intensified efforts to retrieve and destroy used bottles, a key resource exploited by counterfeiters. According to him, criminal networks often collect empty branded bottles from bars and waste dumps, refill them with harmful substances, and reintroduce them into the market.

Manufacturers, he noted, now deploy teams to recover and crush used bottles, despite the additional costs involved, ensuring they are sent to recycling facilities to prevent reuse.

The forthcoming April 22 forum, he added, will bring together regulators, law enforcement agencies, and industry stakeholders to chart a coordinated response to the proliferation of fake alcoholic beverages.

In his remarks, BJAN Chairman, Daniel Obi, described the engagement as a reflection of growing collaboration between both organisations.

He noted that such partnerships are essential for promoting responsible journalism, enhancing industry standards, and supporting sustainable growth in Nigeria’s beverage sector.