After the local media reported of over 17,000 pills filled with powdered made of dead human fetuses seized by customs officers in South Korea, the Vietnam Drug Administration has asked local health departments to inspect the market.

The agency has confirmed that Vietnam does not the circulation of medicines processed from dead fetuses. However, it has asked provincial health departments to combine with police and market control forces to check local markets since this kind of medicine can illegally enter Vietnam through the land border.

The agency has also recommended Vietnamese to not purchase and use medicine of unclear origin.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Health Ministry has said to not find out any pill of this kind in China.

Earlier, the Korea Customs Service reported that it had encountered 35 attempts to sneak around 17,450 capsules into the country since last August, with the pills disguised as stamina boosters.

The grim deliveries are said to have been carried in luggage or sent by international mail.

Customs officials said the tablets were made from dead babies and infants in north eastern China and that ethnic Koreans living there were responsible for the smuggling attempts.

It has been reported by the KCS that the horrific process involves the bodies being chopped into small pieces and then dried on stoves or in medical drying microwaves before being turned into powder.

According to a report by the San Francisco Times, tests carried out on the pills confirmed the capsules were found to be 99.7% made up of human remains.

The officials explained that some people believe the capsules are a universal remedy for disease.

However, an investigation revealed that the capsules contain super bugs among other harmful components. No illnesses have been reported from swallowing the capsules.

Chinese officials ordered an investigation into the production of drugs made from dead fetuses or newborns last year.

Up to 13 million abortions are believed to be performed ever year in China, where a one-child policy for married couples has been in operation since 1978.

Source: VNN