The alleged suspects with the illegal products confiscated
Twelve unlicensed drug dealers have been rounded up for producing and distributing herbal concoctions, unlicensed and unapproved drug at Ashaiman, in the Greater Accra region.
The joint operation by the FDA, police, judges and the media followed months of surveillance.
Large quantities of assorted herbal concoctions and unlicensed drugs including aphrodisiac were also retrieved in the nearly two hours operation.
The Friday operation was part of a five day training on pharmaceutical crime, investigations and intelligence, organised by the Food and Drugs Authority for the judiciary, security agencies and the media.
It is aimed at exposing participants to the realities and difficulties in enforcing the drug laws.
Six teams took part in the operation at the Ashaimam main market and Ashaiman Zongo based on intelligence.
The 12 unlicensed drug dealers arrested at the their various distribution points during the two hour operation included a Malian who walked into the team at Ashaiman Zongo with his assorted drugs and other unapproved products.
The manufacturers of a herbal concoction however escaped arrest as he had left his home which doubled as the production house ahead of the team’s arrival.
The suspects arrested at the end of the exercise were taken to the FDA head office for processing as well as the confiscated drugs.
One of the suspects, Daniel Larweh Osabutey, has been selling herbal preparations for the past two years.
He told TV3 he operates with an international licence but now displays ordinary water because the one who supplied him the drugs has passed on.
A cursory check revealed most of the suspects were licenced by the traditional herbal medicine association but have never checked or registered their drugs with the Food and Drugs Authority
Both the suspect and the exhibits would be handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.
