Parliament cracking down illegal drug deals

The Health Committee of the Parliament of Malawi has engaged the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA), Immigration Department and Malawi Police at Songwe Border as part of an inquiry into the smuggling of government medicines into neighbouring Tanzania.

The inquiry seeks to establish how medicines labelled as belonging to the Malawi Government end up in Tanzania, particularly at Kariakoo, where the drugs are reportedly found in large quantities.

During the engagement, border officials told the committee that smugglers use uncharted routes to transport the medicines across the border instead of using designated crossing points.

The committee is also investigating possible gaps that allow the illegal movement of medicines, including stolen, falsified and substandard drugs.

Meanwhile, the inquiry is part of Parliament’s oversight role in addressing concerns over medicine theft and the illegal trade in pharmaceutical products in Malawi.