By Munashe Gwaze
Police in Zimbabwe have uncovered an illegal medicine manufacturing operation following a raid in a Harare suburb.
The raid, prompted by a public tip-off, exposed a factory processing unverified substances, including crushed peanut shells, into capsules marketed to consumers with false health claims.
Suspects linked to the operation were arrested and referred for prosecution. Authorities said the investigation began after a complaint over the suspected illegal sale of medicines by a company operating as Organicare.
Inspectors from the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe and police raided the residential property and discovered an unauthorized pharmaceutical manufacturing plant. Officials seized industrial capsule-filling, blister-packing and capsule-polishing machines during the operation.
The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe commended members of the public and police for their cooperation, saying community tip-offs remain critical in the fight against counterfeit, substandard, unregistered and illegally manufactured medical products.
