Accra, Sept. 19, GNA - Mr Nabil Moukarzel, Chairman of Finatrade Group of Companies, has commended Food and Drugs Board (FDB) and Ghana Police Service for their vigilance leading to the arrest of members of a rice re-bagging syndicate.

He said the activities of the syndicate are inimical to genuine business in the country and casting a slur on the reputation of rice companies.

Mr Moukarzel made the commendation in statement issued in Accra and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra. On Friday, September 16, GNA reported that Musah Yussif 20, Iddrisu Ibrahim 18, Hamidu Ramah 19, Saine Sadu 18, Ibrahim Alhassan 24 and Fuseini Mohammed 32, have been arrested for re-bagging rice at a secluded place in Okaishie in Accra. The suspects were allegedly arrested for re-bagging inferior rice into used bags of Sultana, Big Joe, Uncle Sam, Royal Feast, Golden Roses and stallion. A couple of months ago, the police arrested another group in a similar criminal act in Teshie, a suburb of Accra.

Mr Moukarzel said the act was criminal and a threat to the businesses of rice importers, retailers and the health of consumers. He called on the FDB and the security agencies to step up their activities to stem the re-bagging venture. Mr Moukarzel who doubles as the Chairman of Food and Beverages Association of Ghana also appealed to the government to tighten security at the entry points of the nation to avoid the smuggling of rice and beverages into the country. "Apart from the fact that their activities stifle businesses, it also denies government the necessary revenue as they do all their activities under the cover of darkness," he noted.