The Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with beverage manufacturers, has raided several illegal factories in Onitsha, Anambra State, arresting suspects accused of destroying returnable packaging materials belonging to beverage companies.
The operation, carried out following intelligence reports, targeted facilities allegedly involved in crushing returnable glass bottles and shredding plastic crates for resale as raw materials.
Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Segun Ajayi-Kadir, said the raid followed sustained complaints from member companies about the illegal disposal, theft and unauthorised recycling of their packaging materials.
According to him, MAN had earlier submitted formal petitions and shared intelligence with relevant security and regulatory agencies, prompting the police action.
Ajayi-Kadir explained that investigations revealed that large quantities of returnable bottles and crates were being diverted from legitimate channels into informal recycling networks across parts of the South-East.
“In several cases, reusable bottles were deliberately broken and crates intentionally shredded for sale as raw materials, undermining the circular packaging model adopted by beverage manufacturers,” he said.
He described the practice as criminal and a form of economic sabotage, noting that the materials remain the property of beverage companies that invest heavily in sustainable packaging systems.
Ajayi-Kadir added that beyond financial losses running into millions of naira, the illegal activities could disrupt supply chains, increase operational costs, and pose environmental and safety risks due to unsafe recycling practices.
He said the raid represents a decisive step by authorities to protect legitimate businesses, uphold environmental standards and deter further illegal activities.
The MAN chief also urged government agencies to intensify efforts to curb the illegal diversion and destruction of returnable packaging materials and called on the public to report suspicious activities to the police or beverage companies.
Beverage manufacturers have long faced challenges related to theft and unauthorised recycling of returnable packaging materials across the country.
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