Hong Kong Customs detected four suspected drug smuggling cases at Hong Kong International Airport on the 9th of this month and yesterday (11th), and seized more than 12,000 pills, about 4,388 milliliters and about 186 grams of suspected controlled drugs, including the unregistered new crown oral drug Primovir , analgesic, antipyretic, and cold medicines containing paracetamol, with an estimated market value of about 540,000 yuan.
Two passengers were arrested during the operation.
Customs officers cleared customs at the airport yesterday (10th) for an outgoing female passenger who was going to Hainan in the Mainland and a male passenger entering Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand. A total of about 3,070 tablets and about 4,388 ml were seized in the hand luggage of the two. and about 186 grams of suspected controlled drugs, including analgesics and fever-reducing medicines containing paracetamol, cold medicines, medicinal oils and eye drops, and the two were immediately arrested by customs.
In addition, customs officers inspected two air parcels arriving from Germany and India respectively at the airport on the 9th of this month and yesterday, and found a total of about 8,940 new crown oral medicines inside, successfully detecting two cases of suspected drug smuggling via air freight channels .
The above four cases are still under investigation.
Customs stated 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 two years upon conviction.
Customs also reminds passengers to bring controlled drugs into or out of the country, they need to show 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 1 poison, it is also subject to the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Cap. 134), the Antibiotics Ordinance (Cap. 137) or the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance ( Chapter 138) are regulated and can only be carried across the border with a doctor's prescription.