Fake Alcohol Drinks Hit Market

FEAR is said to have gripped some residents of Kumasi, especially consumers of foreign-branded alcoholic beverages, following reports that fake alcoholic drinks have been on the market for 10-years.

The Ashanti Regional Police, acting upon a tip-off, apprehended the main architect of the fake drinks, one Yaw Nambu Dosu, 48-years-old, aka ‘Joe’, of Nambu Distilleries at Ejisu, on Monday.

The police found 48 boxes of suspected fake alcoholic drinks in his possession, some of which included Black Label, Red Label, Barcadi, Lion Aromatic Schnapps, Smirnoff, Lord Jack, Lord Kingsley, Sir Edwards and Bony Black.

Dosu disclosed to the police that he used Ethanol, water and colour to ‘manufacture’ the fake alcoholic beverages, adding that his ‘products’ had been in the Kumasi and Accra markets for 10 years now. He named one Mr. Kwofie of Nungua, in Accra, as is his accomplice in the illegal business.

The Ashanti Regional Police Commander, COP Ken Yeboah, told the media that Dosu, in 2007, applied for license at the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to be mandated to produce Lion Bitters, but was denied.

According to him, the suspect rented an apartment at Ejisu, near Anita Hotel Junction, where he started the production of fake alcoholic drinks. He was grabbed upon a tip-off.

COP Yeboah said the beverages found on him would be sent for forensic analysis and admonished the public to be circumspect when buying foreign drinks on the market.

By: Afia Sarpong Amankwa/ thePublisher