Customs launched a special law enforcement operation against the smuggling of imported COVID-19 oral medicines in January this year. So far, a total of 33 cases have been cracked and about 257,000 tablets of COVID-19 oral medicines have been seized, with an estimated market value of more than 15 million yuan; 20 people were arrested during the operation.
Customs Organized Crime Investigation Division Special Investigation Team II Commander Ryan Ning concluded the case and said that because of the discovery of an increasing trend in the smuggling of oral drugs for the new crown, targeted actions were taken.
From January 2023 to the present, a total of 33 cases were seized, a total of 257,000 pills were seized, with a market value of about 15 million yuan, and 20 people were arrested.
Among them, 27 cases entered the country via postal parcel, courier and freight, each ranging from a few hundred to more than 100,000 pills. The other 6 cases were passenger transport, all of which entered the country via the airport, with a total of 87,000 pills.
All the smuggled oral drugs seized came from India, Bangladesh, the Netherlands, Thailand and other European countries.
O Ji followed up on 4 of these cases, seized another 3,900 oral medicines, and arrested 7 people. The case is still under investigation, and it is not ruled out that someone will be arrested again.
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Ryan continued that most of the seized smuggled drugs did not have a Hong Kong registration number and were believed to be unregistered drugs. , a detailed laboratory report is still pending.
He pointed out that currently there are only two registered oral drugs for the new crown in Hong Kong, which are provided to patients by public and private medical institutions or doctors. If the public is infected with the new crown virus, they should seek medical attention and not buy or take the drugs themselves.
The packaging of registered medicines has a registration number, with "HK" plus 5 digits; unregistered medicines have doubts about their safety, quality and efficacy.
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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.
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