HONG KONG: Hong Kong Customs conducted an anti-counterfeit medicines operation on Sept. 5 to Sept. 6 and smashed a syndicate suspected of storing and supplying counterfeit medicines and controlled pharmaceutical products. Fourteen persons were arrested in the operation which was conducted in Tsing Yi, Kwai Chung, Hung Hom and Wong Tai Sin. About 2,700 pills of suspected counterfeit medicines and 92,000 pills of suspected controlled medicines were seized with an estimated market value of about 2.05 million Hong Kong dollars (262,215.55 U.S. dollars). Customs officers on Sept. 5 arrested a 59-year-old man who was suspected of supplying counterfeit medicines to drug stores and seized about 90,000 pills of suspected counterfeit medicines and controlled medicines in his premises in Tsing Yi. A 49-year-old woman in the premises was also arrested.
In the operation, customs officers raided seven drug stores for selling or possessing suspected counterfeit medicines and arrested 12 men. The customs would continue to give priority to the combat of counterfeit medicines with stringent enforcement, Customs Divisional Commander Chow Wai-Tong said at a press conference. The customs will also continue to cooperate closely with relevant government departments and organizations in keeping close track of the market, Chow added. Customs reminds traders that the selling of counterfeit medicines is a serious crime and offenders are liable to criminal sanctions.
