Botox ampoules found in chocolates smuggled from the occupied territories

Source: Announcement

Botox ampoules were one of the more bizarre items that a person attempted to smuggle through the barrier last year, according to customs officials at the British Bases in Dhekelia.

Customs officials discovered 45 ampoules of Mas Port 500 - more commonly known as Botox - hidden in a bag of chocolates inside a woman's suitcase near the end of 2022.

After being questioned, the woman stated that she was going on vacation to Vienna for two weeks and was bringing the Botox with her for personal use.

Mark Hartley, the head of BB Customs in Dhekelia, said her explanation immediately raised suspicions. 'She gave no credible explanation as to why she needed such a large quantity of Botox for a two-week vacation,' he said. Her claim was that she received them as a gift from her partner and that, at 45, she intended to inject Botox all over her body."

Counterfeit goods are a common item smuggled out of occupied territories, and the Customs officer stated that this cannot be ruled out in this case.

He went on to say: "Botox is rarely detected at transit points, and because its origin is unknown due to a lack of genuine documentation, there is a suspicion that the botox was counterfeit or fake.

"Manufactured or fake botox can have serious health consequences, including tissue necrosis, facial paralysis, scarring, and allergic reactions.  Many sources of botulinum toxin come from unlicensed retailers overseas."

The botox ampoules were all confiscated, and a fine was paid.