Fake Rice Syndicate Busted

A team of Policemen from the Kpeshie Divisional Station in collaboration with the Finatrade Group had a tip-off on the 8th of June, 2011, that one gentleman by name Jerry Offie was re-bagging some low grade rice into Uncle Sam sacks for sale and distribution in the market.

Information has it that Jerry and his team has been engaged in the illegal business for a long time now, with wide coverage in the market.

A combined police team from Tema and the Kpeshie Divisional Police Command were immediately dispatched to the crime scene, together with a team from Finatrade.

On arrival, Jerry and a team of three gentlemen and a lady were caught red-handed, with over 200 bags of rice already re-bagged into 5X5kg ‘Uncle Sam’ bags.

The culprits were all arrested and sent to the Kpeshie Divisional Police Station, where they were detained for further investigations.

Items found with them included empty ‘Uncle Sam’ sacks, sealing machines, computers, baby diapers and other low grade rice brands which were yet to be re-bagged. All the items were confiscated by the Kpeshie Divisional Police.

Jerry confessed to the crime and is assisting the Police in investigations. The syndicate was arraigned before court on Friday June 10, 2011 and was remanded in police custody to re-appear on 16th June, 2011.

Commenting on the case, Mr. John Awuni, the Corporate Affairs Director of the Finatrade Group said, the company was committed to weeding out all such unscrupulous elements from society and would co-operate fully with all security agencies to bring them to book in order to safeguard the safety and health of rice consumers in the country.

The Police have also urged members of the public to be on the look out and report such persons who might be involved in such treacherous activities.