The Beer Sectoral Group, in partnership with the Nigeria Police Force, conducted raids on several factories in Anambra State and surrounding areas on Thursday, February 19, arresting individuals for destroying returnable packaging materials, including glass bottles and plastic crates belonging to beverage manufacturing companies.
Speaking on the operation, BSG Executive Secretary Abiola Laseinde said the raids were based on credible intelligence and aimed to tackle illegal disposal, theft, and unauthorized recycling of returnable packaging materials.
Laseinde explained that the factory owners involved were destroying returnable bottles and crates for resale, resulting in substantial financial losses for the companies. She noted that the BSG had formally engaged security and regulatory authorities through petitions and intelligence-sharing to recover assets and dismantle unauthorized recycling operations.
According to her, the group identified multiple sites in the South-East where bottles and crates were being crushed and sold as raw materials.
Investigations revealed that large quantities of these materials were diverted from legitimate channels into informal recycling networks.
In some cases, bottles were deliberately broken, and crates shredded for resale, undermining the beverage companies’ circular packaging model.
“The recent raid is the outcome of sustained engagements and intelligence-led investigations, and represents a decisive step by authorities to protect legitimate business operations, uphold environmental standards, and deter further illegal activity,” she said.
She described the destruction of returnable packaging materials as a criminal act and a serious economic sabotage, stressing that these assets remain the property of the beverage companies, which have invested heavily in sustainable packaging. She warned offenders to desist, noting that violators will face legal consequences.
Laseinde further emphasized that beyond financial loss, such activities disrupt supply chains, increase operational costs, pose environmental hazards from unsafe recycling practices, and threaten public safety.
“These Returnable Packaging Materials (RPMs) are company-owned assets designed for multiple reuse cycles and form a critical part of their sustainability, cost-efficiency, and product quality systems. It’s a criminal activity to destroy them,” she added.
She urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the police or the consumer care lines of beverage companies.
Over the years, the BSG and other beverage firms have consistently faced challenges involving the illegal disposal, theft, and unauthorized recycling of returnable packaging materials.
