Hong Kong Customs detected three suspected medicine smuggling cases at Hong Kong International Airport in the past two days (January 7 and 8). About 11 000 tablets and about 1 000 milliliters of suspected controlled medicines with a total estimated market value of about $600 000 were seized.
In the first case, Customs officers on January 7 inspected at the airport a checked-in luggage arriving in Hong Kong from India and seized about 2 000 tablets and about 1 000ml of suspected controlled medicines.
Customs detected the second and the third case the next day. Customs officers conducted customs clearance on two incoming male passengers from Thailand at the airport and seized a total of about 9 000 tablets of suspected controlled medicines inside their hand-carried baggage. The two men, aged 27 and 40, were subsequently arrested.
Investigations of the above-mentioned three cases are ongoing.
Smuggling is a serious offence. 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. Moreover, any person who imports or exports pharmaceutical products and medicines without a valid licence commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years.
Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, any person who possesses any poison included in Part 1 of the Poisons List other than in accordance with provisions commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years.
Customs reminds members of the public that a passenger bringing into or out of Hong Kong any controlled medicines without a licence issued by the Department of Health may be liable to prosecution with subject items seized. However, medicines carried by a passenger in his/her personal baggage and in a reasonable quantity for his/her personal use may be exempted from licensing requirement.
Furthermore, medicines classified as dangerous drugs, antibiotics or Part 1 poisons are also subject to control under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Cap. 134), the Antibiotics Ordinance (Cap. 137) or the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138). The import or export of such medicines requires a doctor's prescription.
With the Lunar New Year around the corner, Customs will continue to take vigorous enforcement action against different kinds of smuggling activities before and during the holiday based on risk assessment and intelligence analysis. Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
