Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department announced Friday it has shut down an international counterfeit-drug syndicate, seizing fake drugs worth about 19 million HK dollars (2.44 million U.S. dollars), and arresting a 37- year-old man.

On Thursday, Customs officers seized about 470,000 counterfeit drug tablets in an undercover operation. A Hong Kong resident of Southeast Asian ethnicity -- believed to be the mastermind -- was arrested at a hotel.

The syndicate was suspected of engaging in transnational counterfeit-drug sales, targeting offshore markets in Europe, the United States, Australia and India.

The syndicate's counterfeit drugs for sale included treatments for heart disease, male impotence, avian flu anti-virals and slimming drugs.

According to the Government Chemist's analysis, the drugs did not contain harmful substances. Neither do they contain the genuine products' medical ingredients.

Investigations indicate the drugs were not for sale in the Hong Kong market.

Source: Xinhua