MCLC: drugs made from dead babies

[Denton, Kirk]

MCLC LIST
From: Bill (billgoldman at mac.com)
Subject: drugs made from dead babies
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Source: The Guardian (5/7/12):
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/07/south-korea-drugs-dead-babies

South Korea seizes drugs made from dead babies
Capsules of powdered flesh from dead babies were made in north-east China
and brought into Korea for personal use

South Korea <http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/south-korea> has seized
thousands of smuggled drug capsules filled with powdered flesh from dead
babies, which some people believe can cure disease.

The capsules were made in north-east China from babies whose bodies were
chopped into small pieces and dried on stoves before being turned into
powder, the Korean customs service said.

Officials refused to say where the dead babies had come from or who made
the capsules, citing possible diplomatic friction with Beijing. Last year,
Chinese officials ordered an investigation into the production of drugs
made from dead foetuses or newborns.

The customs service said it had discovered 35 attempts since August to
smuggle a total of about 17,450 capsules.

The smugglers told customs officials they believed the capsules were
ordinary stamina boosters, and were ignorant of the ingredients and
manufacturing process. Ethnic Koreans from north-east China who now live
in South Korea intended to use the capsules themselves or share them with
other Korean-Chinese, a customs official said.

The capsules were carried in luggage or sent by international mail. They
were all confiscated but no one was punished because the amount was deemed
small and they were not intended for sale, the official said.

The customs agency began investigating after receiving a tip a year ago.
No sicknesses have been reported from ingesting the capsules.