Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing prohibited articles not under and in accordance with import licence (with photo)

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     Hong Kong Customs on September 10 detected a smuggling case involving a passenger at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and seized 1 100 pieces of pharmaceutical injections, 6 800 tablets of pharmaceutical products and 193 tubes of pharmaceutical ointment, all containing Part I Poisons. The total estimated market value was about $950,000. The passenger concerned was convicted and sentenced to four months' imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (October 17) for contravening the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO) (Cap. 60). All the pharmaceutical products were confiscated.

     Customs officers intercepted a 43-year-old male passenger on September 10 at the Arrival Hall at HKIA for Customs clearance. Upon examination, the batch of pharmaceutical injections, pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical ointment was found inside his check-in suitcases and personal baggage.

     Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence imposes a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.

Customs reminds the public not to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong.

     Under the IEO, any person who imports pharmaceutical products and medicines without a valid import licence commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Ends/Friday, October 17, 2025
Issued at HKT 12:28

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Hong Kong Customs on September 10 detected a smuggling case involving a passenger at Hong Kong International Airport and seized 1 100 pieces of pharmaceutical injections, 6 800 tablets of pharmaceutical products and 193 tubes of pharmaceutical ointment, all containing Part I Poisons. The total estimated market value was about $950,000. The passenger concerned was convicted and sentenced to four months' imprisonment by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (October 17) for contravening the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60). All the pharmaceutical products were confiscated. Photo shows the pharmaceutical injections, pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical ointment seized.