​Hong Kong Customs yesterday (January 16) detected a suspected medicine smuggling case at Shenzhen Bay Control Point and seized about 3 400 tablets and about 900 millilitres of suspected controlled medicines with a total estimated market value of about $3,000.
Customs officers yesterday conducted customs clearance on a 60-year-old outgoing male passenger heading to the Mainland. The batch of suspected controlled medicines, mainly including pain and fever relief medicines containing paracetamol or ibuprofen, was seized from his hand-carried baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.
An investigation is ongoing.
Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, 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 again 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 the 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 approaching, 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).
