The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has arrested two suspects and dismantled an organised syndicate accused of manufacturing and distributing falsified ‘Dr Alfred Capsules’, a dietary supplement sold on social media as a male vitality booster.
Laboratory tests by the FDA’s Centre for Laboratory Services and Research (CLSR) confirmed the capsules contain Sildenafil citrate, a prescription-only drug used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension.
The substance was not declared on the product label, and the capsules were never registered by the FDA.
Acting on regulatory intelligence, the FDA traced the syndicate to Accra and Suhum, where the falsified products were manufactured and pushed out across the country.
The two suspects are on police enquiry bail and assisting with investigations.
The FDA said the capsules were produced in unauthorised, unregulated and unhygienic conditions, calling them a public health risk.
The genuine product is made by CV Al Manar Herbafit of Indonesia and registered in Ghana by Unateus Ghana Limited as a food supplement, and it does not contain Sildenafil citrate.
The FDA flagged clear differences:
- Packaging: The genuine version comes in a 30-capsule pack with high-quality container material, clear text alignment and secure packaging. Fakes use lower-quality containers, poor print resolution, blurred or altered lettering, and come in 30 or 60 capsules.
- Batch numbers: The real product has clear, traceable batch numbers matching on the label and container base. Fakes have no matching numbers or carry fictitious FDA registration numbers.
- Seals: The genuine bottle has uniform tamper-evident sealing and an aluminium inner seal. Fakes lack safety seals on the caps and may or may not have an aluminium inner seal.
- Appearance: Real capsules have a standard wine-red shell with uniform off-white fine powder. Fakes come in different shell colours, including transparent, black and red, and contain greenish-brown powder.
In a public release dated September 9, 2026, the Authority urged the public to be cautious when buying the product on social media and to report suspected falsified medicines and food supplements via WhatsApp or call 0551112224/5, email fda@fda.gov.gh, or through its social media platforms.