A Hong Kong man was intercepted by Macau Customs officers at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge checkpoint for smuggling controlled pharmaceutical products containing Zopiclone into Macau, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Ho Ka Weng said during a regular press conference yesterday.
Ho identified the 51-year-old suspect as a Hongkonger surnamed Chan, who claimed to be a construction worker.
The case has been transferred to the Judiciary Police for further investigation.
According to Ho, customs officers stopped the suspect for a routine inspection around 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday as he was entering Macau via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. During a search of his luggage, officers found and seized 100 medicinal pills.
Subsequent testing confirmed the pills contained Zopiclone, a prescription-only controlled sedative commonly used for the short-term treatment of insomnia, Ho said, adding that possessing 100 pills far exceeds a standard personal medical dose.
The suspect claimed that he purchased the medication in Hong Kong and intended to bring it to Macau for his family member’s use. His drug test result was negative.
At the time of the press conference, the Judiciary Police were still tracing the origin and intended destination of the medication.
This undated handout photo provided by the Judiciary Police (PJ) yesterday shows packs with a total of 100 pills containing Zopiclone, and 2 mobile phones. – Photo: Ida Cheong
