South Korean customs officials target human flesh capsules
In all, about 17,450 capsules were seized by customs officials in South Korea.
South Korean customs officials have seized thousands of drug capsules containing powdered human flesh, says Australia's News.com.
News.com explains, the capsules are allegedly coming from China and contain the ground up flesh of dead babies who are chopped into pieces and dried in stoves before being ground into pill form.
According to the New York Daily News, from August 2011 to March 2012 customs officials found 35 cases of capsule smuggling. In all, about 17,450 capsules were disguised as stamina-boosters found in both the mail, and through smugglers.
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Customs authorities told the South Korean newspaper Dong-a Ilbo, “Since human flesh capsules are confirmed to contain ingredients lethal to humans, including super bacteria, we will preemptively curb their smuggling at borders to protect public health."
According to the AP, smugglers told customs officials they had no idea what the pills contained. The pills were reportedly meant for Koreans from northeastern China who now live in South Korea, says the AP, some of whom believe the pills to be a cure-all for disease. Because they were not meant for re-sale and contained only a small amount of human flesh, no one has been charged with a crime.
ChinaDaily reported the Ministry of Health is looking in to the matter and that China has very strict management of the disposal of fetal remains. Deng Haihua, spokesman of the ministry, told ChinaDaily, "Any practice that handles the remains as medical waste is strictly prohibited."
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