Police in Phalula, Balaka District, have arrested a 33-year-old man, Syless Stephano, for allegedly being found in possession of assorted medical drugs without a valid licence.
The arrest took place on the afternoon of Thursday, August 7, 2025, at an ad hoc roadblock mounted at Phombeya within Phalula.
During the time of his arrest, officers from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and General Duties were manning the checkpoint when they received a tip-off from a well-wisher. The informant reported that a man was travelling on a motorcycle from Matope Trading Centre to Phalula Trading Centre to sell unlicensed medical drugs, taking advantage of the busy market day.
Upon arrival at the checkpoint, Stephano was intercepted and searched. Officers found various medical supplies hidden in his laptop bag, including Bactrim, Gentamicin, Indocid, contraceptive pills, Amoxicillin, Ciprofloxacin, Benzathine Penicillin, Vitamin B, Lumefantrine-Artemether (LA), antiretroviral (ARV) tablets, Aspirin, among others.
Police immediately arrested the suspect and seized the drugs.
Confirming the arrest, Balaka Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Gladson M’bumpha, said:
“The suspect was found in possession of drugs without a licence, which is a serious offence under the laws of Malawi. We commend the community for the rip-off and we urge the public to continue collaborating with the police to curb the illegal sale of medical drugs.”
Stephano hails from Tchenga Village in Traditional Authority Symon, Neno District. He is expected to appear in court soon to answer a charge of being found in possession of medical drugs without a licence, contrary to the Pharmacy, Medicines and Poisons Act.
Police have since warned against the illegal handling and selling of pharmaceutical drugs, saying the malpractice puts lives at risk and undermines public health systems.
