Customs seized 47,000 smuggled new crown oral drugs for the first time, worth about 500,000

For the first time, customs seized smuggled oral antiviral drugs for COVID-19. In the past month, Customs seized two controlled drugs, including Molnupiravir, developed by Merck & Co., Ltd., which were shipped from India to Hong Kong at the airport.

For the first time, customs seized smuggled oral antiviral drugs for COVID-19.

In the past month, the Customs seized controlled drugs such as Molnupiravir developed by Merck & Co., which was shipped from India to Hong Kong, at the airport on two occasions. , about 47,000 tablets of monapilavir, and 70,000 tablets of anti-cancer and cardiovascular disease drugs, with a total value of 3 million yuan, and a man was arrested.

Customs pointed out that the batch of new crown drugs was manufactured and used in India by a sub-factory authorized by the main factory. It was not registered in Hong Kong and could not be imported and used in Hong Kong.

Preliminary investigations believe that the medicines are supplied to nearby areas and have not flowed into the Hong Kong market.

Customs seized a shipment of smuggled Covid-19 oral drug Molnupiravir, as well as other controlled drugs, and arrested a man involved in the case.

On the 21st of last month, through a risk assessment, the Customs selected and inspected a batch of air parcels brought into Hong Kong from India and declared as gifts at the airport, and found that there were about 10,000 illegally imported oral anti-virus drugs inside.

Customs investigation found that the batch of drugs was destined for an address in a commercial building in Sheung Shui. The operation was launched two days later and another batch of the same drugs and a large number of controlled drugs, such as anti-cancer and cardiovascular disease drugs, were seized. A 55-year-old local man was arrested. He is believed to be responsible for managing the warehouse, dismantling and repacking the drugs, and arranging for delivery. He is suspected of importing pharmaceutical products without a valid import license and possessing the first poison.

The arrested person is being released on bail pending further investigation.

On the 1st of this month, Customs intercepted another batch of controlled drug parcels sent to the same address at the airport, which contained 900 controlled injections for the treatment of cancer.

This is the first time Customs has seized smuggled COVID-19 drugs. A total of about 47,000 new crown drugs, worth about 500,000 yuan, and 70,000 tablets of various types of controlled drugs were seized. All drugs with a market value of about 3 million yuan will be sent to the government. The laboratory conducts cargo inspection.

As the Sheung Shui storage warehouse involved in the case was only leased for about three months, the Customs believed that the operation time was relatively short.

Wang Yiyan, senior investigation officer of the first special investigation group of the Organised Crime Investigation Bureau of the Customs, said that the two new crown drugs currently registered in Hong Kong are Molnupiravir developed by Merck and Paxlovid developed by Pfizer. ), the Department of Health only supplies medical institutions and doctors to the public in need, and will never appear in the retail market.

The Department of Health, together with the Customs and Excise Department, will strengthen import and export controls to prevent the products concerned from entering the Hong Kong market and affecting public health.

The Customs strongly urges the public not to buy products whose source and ingredients are of doubtful origin. Their safety, efficacy and quality are not guaranteed. All pharmaceutical products registered in Hong Kong must bear a Hong Kong registration number in the format of “HK-” followed by 5 digits.

Customs appeals to citizens who have relevant information or need to call the Customs 24-hour reporting hotline 25456182.

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