Zhuhai’s Gongbei Customs announced in a statement yesterday that its officers have caught two local men attempting to smuggle eight used smartphones into the mainland via the Macau-Hengqin joint border checkpoint.
Gongbei Customs announced the case, which was detected on July 18 and 19, respectively, in a statement yesterday.
According to the statement, on July 18 and July 19, respectively, Gongbei Customs officers at the Hengqin Port intercepted the two cases of smartphone smuggling through the “Green channel”, where officers detected individuals exhibiting abnormally stiff gaits and subsequently discovered four used phones wrapped in plastic film concealed in each smuggler’s shoe.
In the statement, Gongbei Customs reminded the public that according to relevant regulations, evading customs supervision by hiding or bringing goods subject to taxes into the mainland constitutes smuggling. If the circumstances are severe enough to constitute a crime, criminal liability will be pursued.
Macau Customs busts 11 smuggling cases in 6 days
Meanwhile, the Macau Customs Service announced in a statement on Saturday that its officers busted 11 smuggling cases in six days.
In the statement, the local Customs Service said that the 11 cases involved one smuggler each, aged between 46 and 72, from Macau and mainland China.
On the afternoon of July 18, customs officers at the Barrier Gate checkpoint noticed a man and a woman exhibiting nervous behaviour during a routine inspection. Upon examination, they discovered the man had 12 used computer processors in his trouser pockets, while the woman had 22 used mobile phones in her trouser pockets and handbag.
On the evening of July 21, customs officers at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge checkpoint intercepted a cross-border vehicle in the inbound lane based on an alert from the cross-border “Risk Management System.” An inspection revealed 75.5 kilograms of uninspected seafood and meat being smuggled into Macau.
On the afternoon of July 22, customs officers at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge checkpoint intercepted a cross-border vehicle in the inbound lane based on an alert from the “Risk Management System.” Inspection revealed 25.2 kilograms of uninspected seafood, eggs and meat being smuggled into Macau.
On the morning of July 23, customs officers at the Macau-Hengqin joint border checkpoint’s inbound passenger inspection zone intercepted seven female travellers for examination, discovering a total of 136.5 kilograms of uninspected flowers and plants hidden in their belongings.
According to Macau’s External Trade Law, the four persons who smuggled electronic products or foodstuff face a maximum fine of 50,000 patacas each, while the seized contraband has been confiscated. The case involving the seven female smugglers has been transferred to the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) for further investigation and disposal of the flowers and plants.
This undated handout provided by Zhuhai’s Gongbei Customs shows four used smartphones wrapped in plastic film hidden inside the smuggler’s shoes.
This undated photo provided by Macau Customs Service shows 12 used computer processors in the smuggler’s trouser pockets.
