In a significant blow to the illicit drug trade, Beninese police have seized over 300 kilograms of counterfeit medicines in a warehouse in Ouèdo, Abomey-Calavi.
The operation, conducted on July 9, 2025, by officers from the Ouèdo district police station, targeted a large stockpile of fake pharmaceutical products, including psychotropic tablets.
The raid uncovered a cache of prohibited drugs stored in a centrally located warehouse, raising alarm about the ongoing threat posed by counterfeit medicines to public health.
Authorities swiftly arrested the warehouse owner, a wholesaler involved in the illicit drug market.
During interrogation, the suspect revealed that her supplier is based in a town within the Ouémé department and that deliveries were made on a demand basis.
This admission has opened new avenues in the investigation as police work to dismantle the wider trafficking network and trace the supply chains feeding the counterfeit drug market.
This crackdown aligns with intensified efforts by Beninese authorities to combat the trafficking of fake and substandard medicines, a practice that has grave implications for the health and safety of the population.
Counterfeit drugs not only undermine treatment but also risk fostering drug resistance and severe adverse reactions.
The authorities have pledged to continue their vigilance, emphasizing that such illegal activities will face relentless pursuit.
The investigation remains ongoing, with police aiming to apprehend other key figures involved in this dangerous trade.
As this case unfolds, it highlights the broader challenge facing many African countries in safeguarding pharmaceutical integrity and protecting citizens from the hazards of fake medications circulating in the market.
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