Police arrest six in Kumasi over suspected unregistered pharmaceutical products sale

The Ashanti Regional Police Command has arrested six suspects for allegedly dealing in unregistered pharmaceutical products following an intelligence-led operation at the Airport Roundabout in Kumasi.

The operation was conducted on Monday, June 29, by officers of the Ashanti Regional Police Command in collaboration with the Inspector General of Police's Special Operations Team from the National Police Headquarters in Accra.

The suspects have been identified as Abdul Karim Ramadan, 20, Wisdom Pakindam Jatuat, 38, Razak Issahaku, 37, Abdul Rahman Yakubu, 45, Idrisu Mohammed, 26, and Nana Abio Godwin, 27.

According to the police, the six suspects were arrested while travelling in a DAF XF truck with registration number AW 5113-21.

A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of 17 fertiliser sacks containing pharmaceutical tablets suspected to be unregistered. The exhibits comprised 10 sacks of tablets labelled Dyclosa 50mg and seven sacks labelled Royal Chest and Lungs.

The suspects are currently in police custody assisting investigators from the Drug Law Enforcement Unit.

Police said the recovered pharmaceutical products have been retained as exhibits and will be handed over to the Food and Drugs Authority for laboratory examination to determine their registration status, composition and compliance with the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851).

The Ghana Police Service reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the Food and Drugs Authority and other stakeholders to clamp down on the illegal sale and distribution of unregistered pharmaceutical products across the country.

The police also appealed to the public to report the illegal manufacture, sale or distribution of pharmaceutical products to the nearest police station or through the appropriate emergency channels.