Fourteen people have been arrested in Blantyre and Thyolo for allegedly selling unlabeled pesticides valued at K600,000 without a license.

Principal Monitoring and Enforcement Officer at the Pesticides Control Board, Leston Banda, stated, “Such practices not only reduce the effectiveness of the pesticides but also pose significant risks to crops, humans, and the environment.”

Banda emphasized, “We will soon extend to other hotspot markets across Malawi to apprehend more perpetrators and seize illegal pesticides.”

The joint confiscation exercise was conducted with the police, highlighting the seriousness of the crackdown.

Banda has urged the public to be cautious when purchasing pesticides, advising against buying from vendors and open markets. The suspects are expected to appear in court soon.