Detective inspecting pharmacies at a past function ( Photo/The Star)
Twelve people were on Friday arrested in the ongoing crackdown on fake pharmacies in Garissa.
The suspects were nabbed by Inspectors from the Pharmacy and Poisons Board following an operation to kick out the unlicensed businessperson from running the facilities amid tough laws.
The arrested persons are facing different charges which include operating without licenses and selling to the residents’ unregistered drugs against the laws of the nation.
The group was taken to Garissa Police Station where they were later released on a cash bail.
They are expected to appear before court to respond to the charges leveled against them.
The residents of Garissa town witnessed drama when some of the traders rushed to close down the premises because of they lacked operating licenses.
Addressing the press in Garissa Town, Northeastern region senior drugs inspector Sheikh Omar cautioned pharmacists against continuing with the illegal business, adding that the operation will not stop until all the fake pharmacies are shut down.
“We suspect they are operating illegally and feared inspection. They are, however, not off the hook. We marked them. They can run but they cannot hide,” Omar said, as quoted by Star.
He noted that only 32 of the pharmacies inspected out of the 44 complied with the regulations.