Hong Kong Customs seized about 570 000 tablets of suspected counterfeit and smuggled medicines, and about 15 000 items of suspected counterfeit goods with an estimated market value of about $7.8 million from a container at the Customs Cargo Examination Compound of the River Trade Terminal in Tuen Mun on August 10.
Through risk assessment, Customs officers inspected a 40-foot container arriving in Hong Kong from Huangpu, Guangdong, destined for Kuwait. Upon inspection, Customs officers seized the batch of suspected counterfeit and smuggled medicines and suspected counterfeit goods, including leather goods, clothing and footwear in the container.
An investigation is ongoing.
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trade mark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting and smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
Ends/Monday, August 12, 2019
