Customs seize HK$500,000 smuggled Covid oral drugs

Customs seized 380 boxes of smuggled Covid oral drugs with a value of about HK$500,000 at Hong Kong International Airport and in Tin Shui Wai in the past week.

Officers selected and inspected an air parcel, declared as carrying healthcare products, arriving from India at the airport last Wednesday.

Upon inspection, about 250 boxes of suspected smuggled Covid oral drugs with an estimated market value of about HK$330,000 were found inside the parcel.

Customs arrested a 40-year-old man suspected to be connected with the case in Tin Shui Wai yesterday after a follow-up investigation and found 130 boxes of Covid oral drugs in his residential unit.

A 34-year-old woman was also arrested.

The duo has been released on bail pending further investigation. The likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.

Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person who imports pharmaceutical products and medicines without a valid import license could be fined up to HK$500,000 and imprisoned 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 HK$100,000 and imprisonment for two years.