BY Nadia Ntiamoah
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has arrested two people following the discovery of a suspected organised operation involved in the manufacture and distribution of falsified ‘Dr Alfred Capsules’, a product marketed on social media as a male vitality supplement.
The FDA says laboratory analysis has uncovered a potentially serious public health concern: the capsules were found to contain Sildenafil citrate, a prescription-only pharmaceutical substance that was not declared on the product’s label.
In a public notice issued on September 9, 2026, the Authority said the product being circulated by the suspects had not been registered by the FDA, despite being marketed to members of the public.
The arrests followed regulatory intelligence and enforcement operations which, according to the FDA, led investigators to an organised syndicate operating in Accra and Suhum and allegedly responsible for producing and distributing the falsified capsules to consumers across Ghana.
The two suspects have reportedly been granted police enquiry bail and are assisting investigators as the FDA and law enforcement agencies work to unravel the full extent of the operation.
FDA discovers hidden prescription drug
The seriousness of the case emerged after laboratory testing conducted by the FDA’s Centre for Laboratory Services and Research (CLSR).
The analysis confirmed that the falsified capsules contained Sildenafil citrate, a Phosphodiesterase Type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor.
Sildenafil citrate is a prescription-only medicine used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction in men and pulmonary arterial hypertension.
The FDA’s concern is not simply that a pharmaceutical substance was found in the capsules, but that it was allegedly present without being declared on the product label.
Consumers who purchase what they believe is a dietary supplement may therefore be unaware that they are taking a prescription medicine.
The Authority said the falsified products were manufactured in unauthorised, unregulated and unhygienic environments, conditions which further increase the potential risks associated with consuming them.
Genuine ‘Dr Alfred’ product is different
The FDA has stressed that the genuine ‘Dr Alfred’ product is not the same as the falsified capsules being investigated.
According to the Authority, the genuine product is manufactured by CV Al Manar Herbafit, located at Jalan Imogiri, Bantul, DI Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
The genuine product was registered in Ghana by Unateus Ghana Limited as a food supplement.
Importantly, the FDA said the legitimately registered product does not contain Sildenafil citrate.
The Authority has therefore urged consumers to pay close attention to the physical characteristics of the product before purchasing or consuming it, particularly when it is being offered through social media platforms.
How consumers can identify the genuine product
The FDA said there are several differences between the registered product and the falsified versions.
The genuine product comes in a pack of 30 capsules and is packaged in high-quality containers. Its labelling is clearly printed, properly aligned and securely packaged.
The falsified versions, on the other hand, reportedly use lower-quality container material and have poor print resolution, with blurred or altered lettering. They have also been found in packs containing either 30 or 60 capsules.
Another important difference concerns batch numbers.
According to the FDA, the registered product carries clear and traceable batch numbers which correspond between the label and the base of the container.
The falsified versions either have no matching batch numbers or display fictitious FDA registration numbers.
The packaging seal also provides another way of distinguishing the genuine product.
The registered capsules have uniform tamper-evident sealing and an aluminium inner seal designed to be removed when the bottle is opened for the first time.
The falsified versions, however, reportedly lack safety seals on their bottle caps and may or may not have an aluminium inner seal.
Capsules also differ in appearance
The FDA has further identified differences in the physical appearance of the capsules themselves.
The genuine product contains capsules with a standard wine-red shell filled with uniform off-white fine powder.
The falsified products reportedly have different shell colours, including transparent, black and red, and contain a greenish-brown powder.
The differences, according to the FDA, provide consumers and enforcement authorities with additional indicators for identifying suspected counterfeit versions.
The FDA has specifically warned the public to exercise caution when purchasing ‘Dr Alfred’ capsules through social media, where products can be promoted and sold without consumers being able to easily verify their registration status or authenticity.
