Customs detected three suspected drug smuggling cases at the Hong Kong International Airport for two consecutive days starting last Saturday (7th), and seized about 11,000 pills and about 1,000 milliliters of suspected controlled drugs with an estimated market value of about $600,000. One of the smuggled The drug was a Pfizer Paxlovid (Paxlovid) oral generic drug called "Primovir" produced in India, and the customs arrested two people.
Customs seized about 11,000 pills and about 1,000 milliliters of suspected controlled drugs with an estimated market value of about $600,000. Two people were arrested.
(Picture provided by Customs)
In the first case, customs officers seized about 2,000 pills and about 1,000 milliliters of suspected controlled drugs at the airport last Saturday (7th) when they checked a piece of checked luggage arriving from India.
On the next day (8th), when customs officers cleared the customs of two male passengers entering Hong Kong from Thailand, they seized a total of about 9,000 suspected controlled drugs in their hand luggage and arrested them. They were 27 years old and 40 years old. age.
According to the pictures provided by the customs, one of the smuggled drugs is a suspected unregistered pharmaceutical product called "Primovir". It is reported to be Pfizer's Paxlovid (Paxlovid) Indian-made oral generic drug for the new crown, which is sold in the Mainland for 2,500 yuan.
The Department of Health also took a joint operation with the police last Friday (6th) and found that a pharmacy in North Point District was selling "Primovir". A 41-year-old male clerk was suspected of illegally selling unregistered pharmaceutical products and selling them without a doctor's prescription. Part 1 Schedule 3 poison was arrested, this is the first illegal sale of unregistered new crown oral medicine.
Customs seized about 11,000 pills and about 1,000 milliliters of suspected controlled drugs with an estimated market value of about $600,000. Two people were arrested.
One of the smuggled drugs is Pfizer's Paxlovid (Paxlovid) Indian oral generic drug called "Primovir".
(Picture provided by Customs)
Customs reiterated that smuggling is a serious crime. According to the Import and Export Ordinance, anyone who imports or exports unmanifested goods is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for 7 years upon conviction.
In addition, anyone who imports or exports pharmaceutical products and drugs without a valid license commits an offense and is liable to a maximum fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years upon conviction.
According to the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, any person who does not possess any poison listed in Part 1 of the Poisons List in accordance with the provisions of the provisions commits an offense and is liable to a maximum fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for 2 years upon conviction.
Customs reminds members of the public that passengers carrying controlled drugs into or out of the country must present a permit issued by the Department of Health, otherwise they may be prosecuted and the relevant items may also be seized.
However, passengers may be exempted from obtaining a permit if they carry medication in their personal carry-on baggage for reasonable self-use.
In addition, if the drug is classified as a dangerous drug, antibiotic or Part I poison, it is also subject to the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Chapter 134), the Antibiotics Ordinance (Chapter 137) or the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance ( Chapter 138) are regulated and can only be carried across the border with a doctor's prescription.
As the Lunar New Year is approaching, Customs will continue to strictly enforce the law through risk assessment and intelligence analysis before and during the holiday to crack down on various smuggling activities.
Members of the public can report suspected smuggling activities to the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182, or through the dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
