The Ashanti Regional Police Command has arrested three shop owners and distributors suspected of distributing and retailing counterfeit mosquito and insecticide spray products.

The arrests, made in the commercial hubs of Adum and Tech in Kumasi, follow a formal complaint from Evergreen Chemist Limited, the legitimate UK importer of the popular 'Kill It' insecticides.

The operation, spearheaded by the Ashanti Regional Police Command's Criminal Investigations Department (CID), targeted shops and distribution networks suspected of dealing in these illicit products.

Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Emmanuel Teye Cudjoe, confirmed the arrests and the ongoing investigations.

The three suspects, whose identities have not yet been fully released pending further investigation, face multiple charges, including forging trademarks and defrauding by false pretences.

These are serious offences under Ghanaian law, with potential penalties that could include imprisonment for up to three years or substantial fines, or both, depending on the severity and scale of their involvement.

The Ghana Police Service's Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Unit within the CID plays a crucial role in investigating such cases.

Their mandate includes the detection, investigation, and prosecution of economic and financial crimes, including those related to counterfeiting, trademark infringement, and fraud.

This bust highlights the persistent challenge Ghana faces with counterfeit and substandard goods, particularly those smuggled across porous borders from neighbouring countries.

Reports from organisations like the OECD and local research institutions indicate that illicit trade in counterfeit products, including pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and consumer goods, is a significant problem across West Africa.

For instance, some studies have noted that significant amounts of counterfeit medicines enter Ghana from Nigeria via the Ghana-Togo border.

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) of Ghana, the national regulatory body responsible for ensuring the safety and efficacy of products like insecticides, consistently warns the public against purchasing such items from unapproved sources.

The FDA often conducts market surveillance, raids, and product verification exercises to prevent counterfeit, falsified, and unwholesome regulated products from entering or remaining in the market.

In a recent operation in June 2025, the FDA in the Volta Region destroyed confiscated counterfeit pharmaceutical products alone worth GH₵42 million, many of which were intercepted being smuggled across the Ghana-Togo border.

Counterfeit insecticides, specifically, not only undermine legitimate businesses like Evergreen Chemist Limited but also pose a direct threat to public health.

Consumers, unknowingly using ineffective or harmful products, may experience prolonged exposure to pests like mosquitoes, increasing their risk of malaria and other vector-borne diseases.

The chemicals in fake products can also cause skin irritations, respiratory issues, or more severe health complications.

The Ashanti Regional Police Command has urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious products or retailers to the authorities.

They reiterated their commitment to collaborating with regulatory bodies like the FDA and affected businesses to combat the illicit trade in counterfeit goods, safeguarding both public health and legitimate commerce.