Officials from the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and their collaborators at the Aflao border have arrested Hawa Fuseini, a passenger on a Nagode Transport vehicle with registration number TG 5846 BN, for possession of contraband aphrodisiacs.
The arrest took place on Friday during a joint examination at the vehicle inspection section of the Aflao border at about 17:30 hours. The vehicle, driven by Babayara Rashid, was carrying unregistered pharmaceutical products loaded from Lomé, Togo, and en route to Accra.
Authorities discovered Viagra (sildenafil), Spanish Gold Fly, Diazepam, Rohypnol, and Tramadol Red concealed in a Cream Cracker biscuit carton. The suspect was identified as Hawa Fuseini, according to her Ghana Card. However, the Nagode Transport passenger manifest and seat number listed her as “Assindo Awa.”
Mr. Gorden Akurugu, Volta Regional Director of the FDA, told the Ghana News Agency that the concealment suggested an intentional effort to smuggle the drugs into the country through an unauthorised entry point.
He noted that the drugs were unregistered, and therefore, their safety and efficacy could not be guaranteed. Additionally, they were being transported by an unlicensed individual, violating FDA regulations that prohibit such movement of pharmaceutical products through inland borders.
Mr. Akurugu emphasized that only designated ports such as the Kotoka International Airport and the Tema Harbour are authorised for the importation of such drugs. Any other entry point constitutes a breach of the law.
He urged importers and prospective traders to adhere to the required procedures to avoid legal consequences.
Mr. Akurugu also warned neighbouring countries to be vigilant and prevent their territories from being used as routes for smuggling counterfeit drugs into Ghana and the sub-region. He stressed that through cross-border collaboration and heightened vigilance, the fight against substandard drugs could be won.
He disclosed that the FDA’s operations at the borders now run 24 hours and involve 100 percent inspection of all entries and exits to curb the rampant smuggling of drugs, which are commonly abused by the youth.
The suspect, Hawa Fuseini, is expected to be arraigned before court on Monday, May 12, 2025.
Aflao District Police Crime Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Eric Bamfo, confirmed the arrest.
