THE total volume of confiscated illegal medicine went down by 30 percent, while seized cigarettes also dropped by 67 percent during the first quarter of 2002 compared to the same period in 2001.
Latest data from the Customs Services Division showed that 545 lbs. of prescription and over-the-counter medicine were seized from passengers disembarking at Saipan International Airport.
This marked a 30 percent decrease from the 767 lbs. of intercepted illegal medicine between January and March of last year.
Under Public Law 11-40, imported medicine with non-English labels will be seized by Customs.
The law bans foreign prescription medicine from entering the CNMI, unless they are accompanied by a registered doctor’s prescription, are consumable within 90 days and are intended only for personal use.
Over-the-counter drugs not manufactured in the U.S. or not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are also prohibited from entering the CNMI.
Customs Lt. Tony C. Calvo yesterday said there were only 68 cartons of imported cigarettes confiscated during the first three months of 2002, marking a 67 percent drop from the 209 cartons last year.
“Majority of the medical supplies were from China, and only a little came from Korea. As for the cigarettes, most were also from China, while others were from Korea and the Philippines,” Calvo told Variety.
Only cigarettes that have the words “surgeon general’s warning” are allowed to enter the CNMI without restrictions.
But Customs said cigarettes with the words “U.S. surgeon general’s warning” would be seized as they are intended only for domestic markets, and not for international distribution.
Tourists and even non-resident workers, however, are allowed to bring these cigarettes into the CNMI, provided they don’t exceed three cartons.
