Smuggling attempt foiled: Chinese customs seize 1,747 computer parts via cross-border bus
In a recent incident, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Customs, successfully intercepted a smuggling attempt involving 1,747 computer parts, including CPUs, memory sticks, and solid-state hard drives. The smugglers had cleverly hidden these items within cross-border buses entering the country.
Items found in a hidden compartment under the bus, Source: Chinese Customs
On July 28, 2023, customs officers inspected a Guangdong-Macao cross-border bus using advanced vehicle inspection equipment. An abnormal image shown by said equipment has raised suspicion among officers, leading to a thorough examination of the bus. The officers discovered a hidden compartment installed under a bus. Inside the compartment, they found a significant quantity of CPUs, memory modules, and solid-state hard drives wrapped in plastic and white paper.
Items found in a hidden compartment under the bus, Source: Chinese Customs
The total haul included 837 CPUs, 900 memory sticks, and 10 solid-state drives. The case has since been transferred to the customs anti-smuggling department for further investigation and handling. Among the items seized, the customs images revealed Intel CPUs, Kingston SSDs, and memory from the American brand Corsair. All items have been seized by customs, and if the same vehicle is used for two more smuggling attempts, they will have the authority to confiscate the vehicle as well.
Recently, there has been an increase in the frequency of such endeavors, primarily due to the disparity in sales tax rates between Mainland China and regions such as Hong Kong, which is evidently a compelling reason for engaging in this type of activity. The instances of foiled attempts at smuggling high-value goods represent only the most extreme cases, leaving us to ponder just how many of these products successfully pass through the border unnoticed.
Source: Chinese Customs via IThome, Wccftech
