Hong Kong Police Arrest Five Men in Raids on Pharmacies, Seize Unregistered Weight-Loss Drugs

Hong Kong authorities have arrested five men at registered pharmacies and seized thousands of unregistered anti-obesity medicines and dangerous drugs, vowing to launch more joint operations to clamp down on illegal sales across the city. The Department of Health said on Monday evening that an enforcement operation with the police last Friday at a registered pharmacy in Sha Tin district led to four arrests and the seizure of over 400 tablets of clonazepam, more than 2,700 tablets of zolpidem and six boxes of unregistered slimming injections. The department added that a separate raid on Monday in Jordan resulted in the arrest of a 36-year-old man who was also suspected of illegally selling an anti-obesity medicine and failing to store Part 1 poisons in a locked receptacle. "In light of the fact that there are people illegally selling or possessing unregistered anti-obesity medicine classified as a Part 1 poison and prescription drug under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, the Department of Health announced [on Monday] that it has stepped up inspection and enforcement efforts across Hong Kong in recent days," the department said in the statement. "The department reminds the public that weight control should be achieved through a balanced diet and appropriate exercise. The public should consult healthcare professionals before consuming any medication for weight control." The department stressed that it had an established mechanism to monitor the sale of pharmaceutical products in the market, including the internet. The recent operations reflected the growing popularity of weight-loss injections locally and worldwide, leading to a surge in residents seeking such treatments. A recent study found that nearly one in two residents was overweight or obese, fuelling demand and creating a lucrative market for unregistered products.