Customs busts counterfeit Chinese medicine sales, arresting four

The customs announced on Friday that they arrested four individuals for selling counterfeit Chinese medicine, valued at approximately HK$850,000.

The operation was initiated after customs received a report about a pharmacy allegedly selling counterfeit medicines. From February 13 to 27, the operation targeted three pharmacies located in Jordan, Causeway Bay, and Tai Po.

During the raids, over 14,000 items were seized, including suspected counterfeit traditional Chinese medicines, collectively estimated to be worth around HK$850,000.

With support from the Department of Health, customs officers also uncovered a batch of controlled medications at the implicated pharmacy in Jordan. 

These medications, which included prescription treatments for skin conditions and reactive airway diseases, were being sold without the necessary permits or licenses from the Department of Health.

The operation led to the arrest of four men, aged between 31 and 48, including a pharmacy manager and three staff members. They were apprehended on suspicion of violating the Trade Descriptions Ordinance and the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance.

Following their arrests, all four individuals have been released on bail.