Unregistered Drug Seller At Alabar Arrested, Products Confiscated

A swoop at the Alabar in Kumasi in the Ashanti region has led to the arrest of one trader and the confiscation of GHC700,000 worth of unregistered drugs.

The swoop was done by the Ashanti Regional Office of Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and the South Suntreso Police.

According to the FDA, Alabar is a hotspot for such unregistered drugs which include aphrodisiacs and body enhancement drugs in the Kumasi metropolis.

The exercise sought to bring offenders into compliance with the Public Health Act, 2012, Act 851, the FDA noted in a Facebook post.

Head of the Ashanti regional FDA office, John Laryea Oddai Terttey, told the media such drugs are smuggled onto the market as they do not qualify for registration.

“These products will never be approved by the FDA. How these products get into our market remains unknown. But we want to assure that when these smugglers beat entry points we will always fish them out when they come on the market.”

He said such swoops will continue in various parts of the region.

“We do a lot of scouting and surveillance and we are mapping the entire region so that wherever we have these products sold, we will move to those areas and get rid of them. But we have some spots that perpetually display these products and we are starting with them and we will get to them. Those in these illegal trades must rethink their activities because we are coming after them.”

He advised the public against using these products and urged them to rather visit the hospital for prescriptions.

“We are not supposed to buy medicines like we buy toffees. Get to a licensed chemical shop or pharmacy to have your prescribed medication.”

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini