HARARE, May 17 (NewsDay Live) — The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe and the police have uncovered an illegal medicine manufacturing operation following a raid in the Harare suburb of Zimre Park.
The raid, prompted by a public tip-off, exposed a factory allegedly 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.
MCAZ inspectors 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.
Investigators said the company had previously been raided at premises along Jason Moyo Avenue, where unregistered complementary medicines were confiscated. That operation resulted in a criminal conviction.
Despite the earlier prosecution, the company allegedly moved its operations to a residential area. In a statement, MCAZ warned the public against buying medicines from unlicensed dealers or unverified sources, saying unregulated products pose a serious risk to public health and safety.
The authority also 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.
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