Officers from Hong Kong Customs and Department of Health conducted a territory-wide operation from November 17 to 18 to crack down on sales activities of counterfeit drugs to treat impotence.
With the assistance of a trademark owner, Customs officers from the Intellectual Property Investigation Bureau raided eight drugs stores, resulting in the seizure of 300 tablets of suspected counterfeit drugs to treat impotence, worth about $22,000.
Nine persons, including eight men and a woman, aged between 22 and 54, were arrested. They are now on bail pending further investigation.
Separately, seven drugs stores were found in breach of the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance by selling controlled medicine to customers without a doctor's prescription.
The counterfeit drugs to treat impotence seized in the operation will be sent to Government Laboratory (GL) for analysis. While the test result is being awaited, the trademark owner's laboratory test showed that there was no harmful substance found in the counterfeit impotence drugs samples obtained during its market survey. For counterfeit impotence drugs seized in previous Customs operations, GL had confirmed that no harmful substance was found.
Members of the public are urged to report to Hong Kong Customs by calling the 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 in case they came across any suspected counterfeiting activities.
They are advised to call the trademark owner of the drugs for impotence at 2121 8777 during office hours.
Any person who contravenes the Trade Descriptions Ordinance is liable to prosecution. The maximum penalty is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
The maximum penalty for contravening the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance is a fine of $100,000 and two year's imprisonment.
Ends/Saturday, November 19, 2005