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A 70-year-old man allegedly exploited a loophole to sell cut-price, unregistered Viagra through WhatsApp, promoting pills he claimed worked wonders for him.
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A handwritten advertisement taped near the entrance of a private building in Causeway Bay openly displayed a WhatsApp number and promised “Viagra for sale.”
The flyer offered 100mg “Viagra” pills for HK$130 per box — roughly 70 percent cheaper than the retail price of HK$400 to HK$500 — describing the product as “Genuine, from Thailand.”
‘It works well,’ seller claims
In an undercover investigation by Sing Tao Probe, sister publication of The Standard, a reporter contacted the seller via WhatsApp and arranged to meet at To Kwa Wan MTR station.
The vendor, wearing a gray shirt, cap and mask, arrived early and appeared nervous, frequently glancing around.
During the transaction, he insisted the pills were authentic. “It’s the Thai version. It works well,” he said, claiming the drug would take effect within 10 minutes and last up to eight hours.
He acknowledged that the pills were not registered in Hong Kong but suggested the low price made them attractive.
“Some customers wanted to buy ten boxes, but this is the last batch. I’ve taken over 40 boxes myself with zero side effects,” he said.
When the reporter revealed their identity and questioned him about the illegal sale of prescription drugs, the man appeared flustered and repeatedly apologized. “I’m old. Sorry, sorry,” he said.
Expert warns of health risks
After examining the product, urology specialist Raymond Kan Wai-man said the claim that the drug works within 10 minutes was exaggerated and that the onset time can vary from person to person.
More critically, Kan noted the product lacked approval from both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Hong Kong’s Drug Office.
“Its authenticity is questionable. There’s no way to verify its quality or effectiveness,” he stated.
Kan also pointed out that the pill’s blue, diamond-shaped appearance closely resembled the patented original version of Viagra, raising further concerns. He noted that generic drugs are generally not permitted to mimic the appearance of brand-name products.
Legal consequences
Viagra is a prescription drug in Hong Kong. Kan warned the public not to purchase it without medical consultation, particularly individuals with heart conditions or cardiovascular disease.
The drug contains sildenafil, which is classified as a Part 1 poison under Hong Kong law. It can only be sold in a pharmacy in the presence and under the supervision of a registered pharmacist.
The illegal sale or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products or Part 1 poisons is a criminal offense. The maximum penalty for each offense is a fine of HK$100,000 and two years’ imprisonment.
