Two traders, accused of re-bagging assorted rice for the past five years, have been arrested in a joint operation by the police and officials of Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), at Okaishie, in Accra.
Five employees (names withheld), operating at warehouses of the readers, where also nabbed for interrogation.
Alhassan Fuseni,40,Sumaila Sudique,50, owners of the warehouses, were caught red handed by the team re-packaging rice into bags of high cost marketable brands, and selling to customers.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Accra Regional Police, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Effia Tenge, who confirmed the arrest to the Ghanaian Times in Accra, yesterday, said the suspects were in police custody, assisting in investigations.
She said on December 11, the police and FDA arrested the suspects following information that some traders at Okaishie market were re-packaging low cost rice into bags of high cost rice brands.
DSP Tenge said about 2,000 bags of assorted rice were found in the warehouses, adding that FDA would test and examine samples of the rice.
According to the PRO, Saddick during interrogation told the police he used sacks obtained from people, who trade in rice bags.
DSP Tenge said Saddick told the police that lower quality rice was purchased from different shops in Okaishie, and after re-bagging the rice; it was sold at the same price as the high quality branded ones to customers, ranging from GH¢23 and GH¢50 depending on the brands.
The FDA cautioned traders who adulterate food to desist from such act, adding that offenders would be arrested and prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others.
The FDA asked consumers to look out for old sacks, with double manufacturing dates and expiry dates.
By Anita Nyarko-Yirenkyi
