Officials from the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), in collaboration with their partners at the Aflao border, apprehended Hawa Fuseini, a passenger on a Nagode Transport vehicle with the registration number TG 5846 BN, for possessing illegal aphrodisiacs.
The arrest occurred on Friday during a coordinated inspection at the vehicle inspection area of the Aflao border around 17:30 hours.
The vehicle, operated by Babayara Rashid, was transporting unregistered pharmaceutical products sourced from Lomé, Togo, and was headed to Accra. Authorities uncovered Viagra (sildenafil), Spanish Gold Fly, Diazepam, Rohypnol, and Tramadol Red hidden within a Cream Cracker biscuit carton.
The suspect was identified as Hawa Fuseini based on her Ghana Card; however, the passenger manifest and her assigned seat number on the Nagode Transport indicated her name as ‘Assindo Awa.’
Mr. Gorden Akurugu, the Volta Regional Director of the FDA, informed the Ghana News Agency that the concealment indicated a deliberate attempt to smuggle these drugs into the country via an unauthorized entry point.
He pointed out that the drugs were unregistered, thus their safety and effectiveness could not be assured.
Furthermore, they were being transported by an unlicensed individual, which contravenes FDA regulations that prohibit the movement of pharmaceutical products through inland borders.
Mr. Akurugu stressed that only designated ports, such as Kotoka International Airport and Tema Harbour, are permitted for the importation of such drugs, and any other entry point is a violation of the law.
He urged importers and potential traders to comply with the procedures to avoid legal repercussions. Additionally, Mr. Akurugu cautioned neighboring countries to remain vigilant and prevent their territories from being exploited as routes for smuggling counterfeit drugs into Ghana and the surrounding region.
He asserted that through cross-border cooperation and increased vigilance, the battle against substandard drugs could be successfully waged.
He revealed that the FDA has implemented 24-hour operations at the borders, conducting a complete inspection of all entries and exits to combat the widespread smuggling of drugs that are frequently misused by young people.
The suspect, Hawa Fuseini, is anticipated to appear in court on Monday, May 12, 2025. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Eric Bamfo, the Crime Officer for the Aflao District Police, verified the arrest.
