Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has intensified efforts to combat the infiltration of illegal drug substances into consumer products, following the discovery of two unregistered alcoholic beverages laced with cannabis extracts.
In a public health alert issued on May 18, 2025, the FDA identified Kings Orange Flavoured Liqueur and Jupiter 1990 as products that pose a significant risk to public health due to their illicit marijuana content.
“These drinks are being secretly produced and contain cannabis, making them unsafe for public consumption,” the Authority warned in the statement.
The discovery is part of a broader crackdown on the growing trend of psychoactive substances being infused into consumer goods, often without the knowledge of buyers.
Investigations traced the origin of the drinks to an illegal production site operated by Famude Catering Services in the Ashanti Region. The company had previously registered Kings Orange Flavoured Liqueur with the FDA in 2022, but subsequent inspections in 2023 uncovered the presence of marijuana in its formulation. This led to the revocation of its license and the closure of its facility.
The case was subsequently handed over to the Suntreso District Police, with further monitoring conducted in collaboration with the Drug Law Enforcement Unit (DLEU) of the Ghana Police Service and the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC).
Despite the shutdown, the FDA received intelligence in April 2025 indicating that the banned product was resurfacing on the market in Koforidua. A tip-off led to the discovery of a new illegal production site at Jachie Abidjan Nkwanta, where authorities uncovered a cache of dried marijuana, product labels, and samples of both Kings Orange and the newly discovered unregistered drink, Jupiter 1990.
Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of marijuana extracts in both drinks, intensifying concerns about illegal narcotics entering the consumer market through food and beverages.
All seized items have been handed over to the DLEU of the Central Police Command in Kumasi for continued investigation and possible legal action.
The FDA is now urging all retailers and wholesalers to immediately cease distribution of the affected products and to return any existing stock to the nearest FDA office. Consumers have also been advised to steer clear of these beverages.
“Consumption of such tampered alcoholic drinks could cause serious harm to your health, including long-term damage to organs such as the liver and kidneys,” the FDA cautioned.
This latest bust underscores the urgent need for tightened surveillance and enforcement in Ghana’s beverage production and retail sectors to shield consumers from unregulated, psychoactive-laced products masquerading as legitimate drinks.
