Hong Kong Customs seized about 1 000 pieces of injection vials suspected to contain Part 1 poisons with an estimated market value of about $2 million at Hong Kong International Airport on October 9.
Through risk assessment, Customs on that day inspected an air consignment consisting of nine boxes, declared as carrying body cream, and arriving in Hong Kong from Italy, at the airport. Upon inspection, Customs officers found the batch of injection vials suspected to contain Part 1 poisons in the consignment.
After a follow-up investigation, Customs on October 16 arrested a 52-year-old male consignee suspected to be connected with the case, and further seized 37 pieces of injection vials suspected to contain Part 1 poisons at the consignee address.
An investigation is ongoing and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.
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.
Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).
Ends/Monday, November 18, 2024
