The Macau Customs Service (SA) said in a statement on Tuesday that its officers caught a 25-year-old mainland man carrying a large cardboard box earlier that day at the Qingmao checkpoint in Ilha Verde during his attempt to smuggle 30 boxes containing 1,800 “bear-bile dripping pills” (“熊胆滴丸” in Chinese).
According to the statement, the ingredients of the medicine contain items listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The statement said the suspect admitted that he was planning to take the traditional Chinese medicine worth about 3,000 yuan to the mainland “at the behest of others”. The case was still under investigation when the statement was issued.
The statement underlined that the suspect faces a fine of up to 200,000 patacas for smuggling ingredients listed in CITES and violating Macau’s External Trade Law.
If any illegality is suspected, members of the public should report it to the Macau Customs Service by calling 2896 5001, faxing 2896 5003 or emailing info@customs.gov.mo.
This handout photo taken by the Macau Customs Service (SA) on Tuesday shows 30 boxes of “bear-bile dripping pills”.
