Customs detected a suspected drug smuggling case at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point yesterday (16th). Customs officers seized about 3,400 pills and about 900ml of suspected drug smuggling in his carry-on luggage while clearing customs for a 60-year-old male passenger who was going to the Mainland. Controlled drugs, mainly including painkillers and antipyretics containing paracetamol or ibuprofen, have an estimated market value of about 3,000 yuan, so he was arrested and the case is still under investigation.
Customs officers seized about 3,400 pills and about 900ml of suspected controlled drugs in the carry-on luggage of a 60-year-old male passenger who was preparing to go to the Mainland at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point, mainly including pain relievers containing paracetamol or ibuprofen The antipyretics were estimated to have a total market value of about 3,000 yuan, so he was arrested.
(Picture provided by Customs)
Customs emphasizes that smuggling is a serious crime. According to the Import and Export Ordinance, anyone who imports or exports pharmaceutical products and drugs without a valid license is guilty of an offense. Upon conviction, the maximum penalty is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for 2 years.
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 once again reminded 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 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.
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).
