The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has confiscated some herbal and orthodox pharmaceuticals worth GH¢700,000 at Alabar, Kumasi, Ashanti Region.

Officials of the FDA also arrested the merchant, a 35-year-old woman.

The exercise is part of the FDA’s crackdown on illicit pharmaceuticals.

Alabar is a hotbed of illicit pharmaceuticals in the Ashanti Region.

The regional head of the FDA, Mr John Laryea Oddai Tettey, told journalists during the exercise in the company of the police: “This one was seized from a single shop at Alabar, and we have a number of them out there as was seen in our exercise last week, and we are currently collaborating with the police to ensure that products that are not registered will be gotten rid of.”

“The advice to consumers is to get a proper diagnosis and visit the hospital and get a prescription and buy from licensed shops, and you are not to buy medicines like toffees. You don’t buy medicine that is being hawked because, in case of anything, it is difficult to trace and apprehend the culprits.”