Police Raid Illegal Recycling Sites in Anambra Over Destruction of Beverage Packaging Materials
Lagos, Nigeria – Friday, March 6, 2026
The Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with beverage manufacturers, has carried out a major operation in Onitsha and surrounding areas of Anambra State, leading to the arrest of several individuals allegedly involved in the destruction of returnable packaging materials belonging to beverage companies.
The raid targeted a number of illegal facilities where returnable glass bottles and plastic crates owned by beverage manufacturers were reportedly being destroyed and processed for resale as raw materials.
Speaking on the development, the Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, said the operation was carried out following credible intelligence gathered by the police in collaboration with member companies.
According to Ajayi-Kadir, the action was aimed at dismantling illegal operations linked to the theft, unauthorised disposal, and recycling of returnable packaging materials belonging to beverage manufacturers.
He explained that several member companies had raised concerns that operators of illegal recycling factories were deliberately destroying company-owned bottles and crates for resale, resulting in significant financial losses running into millions of naira.
The association subsequently engaged security and regulatory authorities through formal petitions and intelligence-sharing mechanisms, seeking lawful intervention to halt the illegal activities, recover company assets, and shut down the unauthorised recycling operations.
Ajayi-Kadir disclosed that investigations revealed multiple illegal sites across the South-East where returnable bottles and crates were being crushed and shredded for sale as recyclable materials. He noted that a large volume of these items had been diverted from legitimate distribution channels into informal recycling networks.
“In several instances, reusable bottles were deliberately broken while plastic crates were intentionally shredded and sold as raw materials, thereby undermining the circular packaging model adopted by beverage manufacturers,” he said.
He described the recent police operation as the outcome of sustained engagement between the association, its members, and law enforcement agencies.
“The raid represents a decisive step by authorities to protect legitimate business operations, safeguard environmental standards, and deter further illegal activities,” Ajayi-Kadir added.
The MAN Director-General described the practice as a form of economic sabotage, stressing that the returnable packaging materials remain the property of beverage companies that have invested heavily in sustainable packaging systems.
He warned individuals involved in the illegal activities to desist immediately, noting that the association would continue to collaborate with law enforcement agencies to ensure offenders are prosecuted.
Ajayi-Kadir further highlighted that beyond financial losses, the destruction of returnable packaging materials could disrupt supply chains, increase operational costs for manufacturers, and create environmental and safety risks due to unsafe recycling practices.
“These Returnable Packaging Materials (RPMs) are company-owned assets designed for multiple reuse cycles. They play a critical role in ensuring sustainability, cost efficiency, and product quality within the beverage industry. Destroying them is a criminal act,” he said.
He also called on relevant government agencies to intensify enforcement against the illegal diversion and destruction of packaging materials outside the legitimate value chain.
Ajayi-Kadir urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities related to the destruction or illegal recycling of returnable packaging materials to the police or through the consumer care channels of the affected beverage companies.
For several years, beverage manufacturers have faced ongoing challenges involving the theft, illegal disposal, and unauthorised recycling of their returnable packaging materials, a trend industry stakeholders say requires stronger enforcement and public awareness to curb.
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