****************************

A spokesman for the Customs and Excise Department today (March 19) reminded members of the public not to import Viagra, a part I Poison, into Hong Kong without a proper import licence.

The spokesman said the importation of Viagra is governed by the relevant ordinance that requires licence to be issued in advance by the authorities concerned.

He pointed out that Customs Airport Command officers last Saturday (March 17) seized 45 tablets of Viagra from an express parcel from the US, declared as magazine. A 29 year-old Hong Kong man was arrested.

Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person convicted of "importing prohibited article without a licence" is liable to a maximum fine of $500,000 fine and two years' imprisonment.

It is believed that the Viagra tablets were ordered through the Internet.

"This is the 11th case of illegal importation of Viagra detected by Customs officers at the Airport so far this year," the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, Customs the officers at the Airport, during Customs clearance on March 2, seized 45 274 tablets of pharmaceutical products, totally worth $1.9 million, from three undelivered express parcels returned from Singapore.

"Among the seizure, 17 444 were Viagra tablets with a total value of about $1.4 million. Customs enquiries are continuing," the spokesman said.

End/Monday, March 19, 2001

NNNN