A group of people who manufactured candies containing ingredients to treat erectile dysfunction in Malaysia and then smuggled them into Korea and sold them at adult stores and online shopping malls have been arrested.



Busan Customs announced today (20th) that it had booked two people, including Mr. A (in his 40s), on charges of violating the Customs Act and the Special Act on Imported Food Safety.



According to customs, Mr. A and others are accused of consigning candy containing ingredients to treat erectile dysfunction in Malaysia from 2019 to January last year.



It is made with 'demethyltadalafil', which has a chemical structure similar to tadalafil, the main ingredient of Cialis, known as an erectile dysfunction treatment, and 'chaeyangyang', an oriental medicine often used to treat erectile dysfunction.



Demethyltarafil is a substance that should not be used as a food ingredient, and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is managing it as an 'unclean substance'.



It can cause serious side effects such as myocardial infarction, high blood pressure, headache, flushing, and muscle pain, so it is said that it can only be taken with a doctor's prescription.




It was confirmed that Mr. A and others imported 170,000 candies worth 2 billion won in market value into Korea and sold them at adult stores, sales agencies, and internet shopping malls.



According to customs, the candy was not only advertised as an energy candy, sexual function supplement, etc., but also tried to sell to examinees under the name 'heat-gap candy'.



Customs confiscated 45,000 candies they were holding.



Customs explained that Mr. A and others had a history of smuggling hammer candy known as 'viagra candy'.



As Viagra candy sales became difficult due to crackdowns by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, it was discovered this time while illegally importing Viagra candy as if it was a new product after changing the ingredients a little and manufacturing it overseas.



An official from Busan Customs said, "For the safety of people's food, we will strengthen inspections on international mail and express cargo, and continue to monitor illegal online distributions such as SNS."



(Photo = provided by Busan Customs, Yonhap News)