A 24-year-old woman was arrested on Friday for selling a banned slimming product online that can increase the risk of heart attacks and cause cancer.
It might kill you, but at least you’d die skinny, right?
In a joint operation launched after a complaint from a member of the public, Hong Kong’s Department of Health and the police purchased a sample of the slimming pills and sent it for analysis at the government laboratory.
The product was found to contain two banned Part I poisons, sibutramine and phenolphthalein.
Sibutramine, an appetite suppressant, was banned in 2010 due to increased cardiovascular risk associated with the drug. Phenolphthalein, once used to treat constipation, is also banned in Hong Kong for its cancer-causing effect.
Part I poisons can only be sold by a registered pharmacist, with the maximum penalty for those pedalling them under the table being a fine of HKD100,000 and two years in jail.
“Weight control should be achieved through a balanced diet and appropriate exercise,” said a Department of Health spokesman who clearly knows his shit.
Anyone who’s purchased the product is advised to stop taking it immediately and drop off any remaining drugs at the Department of Health’s office (Room 1856, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai) for disposal.
Got a tip? Send it to us at hongkong@coconuts.co.
