Seventy-Year-Old Arrested for Illegal Sale of Sildenafil-Containing Product in Sham Shui Po Operation.

One person arrested for suspected illegal sale and possession of product with undeclared controlled drug ingredient

The Department of Health (DH)'s earlier investigation revealed the suspected illegal sale of a product containing undeclared controlled medicine and carried out an enforcement operation with the Police today (September 10).During the operation, a 70-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of the illegal sale and possession of Part 1 poison and an unregistered pharmaceutical product.

Following up on a report received earlier, the DH purchased a product named "Natural Herbs Coffee Kopi Panggung AL-Ambiak" from a premises in Sham Shui Po. Test results from the Government Laboratory revealed that the sample contained sildenafil, which is a Part 1 poison regulated under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138) (the Ordinance). The product is also suspected to be an unregistered pharmaceutical product.

Sildenafil is a prescription drug used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction and should only be used under a doctor's professional advice and supplied in a pharmacy under the supervision of a registered pharmacist upon a doctor's prescription. Side effects of sildenafil include low blood pressure, headaches, vomiting, dizziness and transient vision disturbances. It may interact with some drugs (such as nitroglycerin for the treatment of angina) and cause blood pressure to decrease to dangerous levels. Improper use of sildenafil may pose such serious health risks, especially for patients with heart problems.

According to the Ordinance, all pharmaceutical products must be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong before they can be sold in the market. In addition, pharmaceutical products containing Part 1 poisons can only be sold at the registered premises of an Authorized Seller of Poisons (commonly known as a pharmacy) under the supervision of a registered pharmacist. If any contravention of the law is suspected, the DH will take resolute enforcement action and initiate prosecutions after seeking advice from the Department of Justice. The illegal sale or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products or Part 1 poisons is a criminal offence. The maximum penalty for each offence upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment. The DH reminded the public that illegal sale of controlled medicines under the Ordinance regardless of the sales channel (including instant messaging applications and social media platforms) carries criminal liability, and urged the public not to break the law.

The DH will continue to investigate the incident and take appropriate follow-up actions.

The DH urged members of the public who have purchased the product concerned to stop consuming it immediately. They are also reminded not to buy or consume products of doubtful composition or from unknown sources. They should consult healthcare professionals if they feel unwell after consumption. They may submit the product to the Drug Office of the DH at Room 4105, 41/F, Revenue Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, during office hours for disposal.

The DH reminded members of the public that all registered pharmaceutical products carry a Hong Kong registration number on the package in the format of "HK-XXXXX". The safety, quality and efficacy of unregistered pharmaceutical products are not guaranteed.

The public may visit the DH's Drug Office webpage forhealth message on sexual dysfunction and virility productsandvirility products found to contain undeclared Western medicines.

One person arrested for suspected illegal sale and possession of product with undeclared controlled drug ingredient Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs seizes illegally imported live turtles of suspected scheduled endangered species

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (September 9) seized four illegally imported live turtles of a suspected scheduled endangered species, with an estimated market value of about $5,000, at the Lo Wu Control Point.

Customs officers intercepted an incoming 40-year-old local male passenger at the Arrival Hall of the Lo Wu Control Point yesterday. Upon examination, the four live turtles were seized from his personal baggage. Officers of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) attended the scene for inspection and preliminarily identified that the four live turtles were of an endangered species listed in the Appendices to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and regulated under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance in Hong Kong. The case was handed over to the AFCD for follow-up investigation.

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

According to the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person importing, exporting or possessing specimens of endangered species not in accordance with the Ordinance commits an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years upon conviction with the specimens forfeited.

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).

Hong Kong Customs seizes illegally imported live turtles of suspected scheduled endangered species Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases