The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in collaboration with the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB), the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has safely disposed of 4,152 bottles of cough syrup containing codeine concealed in duvets packed in suitcases, backpacks and other travelling bags impounded at the Kotoka International Airport, Accra.

The Minister of Health, on the 26 September 2018, issued an executive instrument banning the importation, manufacture and registration of codeine-laced cough syrups under section 116 of the Public Health Act, 2012.

The 4,152 bottles of codeine-laced cough syrup have a street value of GHS332,160.

They were imported from South Africa in three different consignments by three different importers.

The suspects have been handed over to the Ghana Police Service for further investigation and prosecution.

The safe disposal of the codeine cough syrup was done at the Adepa Landfill Site, Nsawam, with supervision from the Metropolitan Assembly and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Source: Ghana/ClassFMonline.com/91.3FM