Hong Kong customs seizes erectile dysfunction pills and other drugs worth HK$80 million
- Four women arrested after customs confiscates more than 1 million pills of controlled medicines allegedly being sent abroad by post
Hong Kong customs has seized erectile dysfunction pills, psychoactive drugs and veterinary medicines worth HK$80 million (US$10.2 million) and arrested four suspects in a crackdown on two smuggling syndicates accused of posting the products to more than 60 countries.
Senior Investigator Hong Yan from customs’ syndicate crimes investigation bureau said on Sunday officers had raided two packaging and storage centres, one in Mui Wo and the other in San Po Kong, where they found 1.4 million pills of controlled medicines.
Half of the medicines were erectile dysfunction pills, while others included antidepressants, psychoactive drugs, painkillers and veterinary medication.
Most were found to be generic drugs from India, which were produced and sold without a brand name after the patent protection of the original medication had expired.
The drugs had an estimated value of HK$80 million.
Hong said the cost of the imported generic drugs was about one-fifth of the original versions, but the syndicates might have sold them at the prices of the branded products.
The investigation began last month when 22 regulated erectile dysfunction pills were discovered in a package being sent from Hong Kong to Italy.