China Customs made public 10 typical
smuggling cases intercepted by Customs officers in 2014, including the
smuggling case of luxury tobacco and liquor seized by Guangzhou Customs
District, the drug trafficking case invovling 72.6 kilograms of ice seized by
Kunming Customs District, the smuggling case involving 5,840 tons of beef
seized by Chongqing Customs District, the smuggling case of blast furnace dust
and slag ( both are solid waste forbidden to be imported into the country)
intercepted by Nanjing Customs District and the smuggling case involving 1,255
tons of red sandalwood seized by Qingdao Customs District.
Mr. Zhang Guangzhi, the spokesman of the General
Administration of Customs, said Customs administrations, focusing on supporting
the socialist economic, political, cultural, social and ecological
development and the reform and social stability at large, mounted some special
operations to fight strongly against the smuggling activities, for example, the
operation codenamed “Green Wind” to fight against the smuggling of such agricultural products as
rice and frozen meat, the one codenamed “ Violet Light” to fight against drug trafficking, and the one codenamed “Guardian” to fight against the smuggling of
endangered species. China Customs maintains a tough stance on smuggling by
making constant efforts to fight against the smuggling of key dutiable items,
cracking down hard on such activities as weapons and ammunitions smuggling and
overseas wastes smuggling and by launching comprehensive programs together with
local governments and relevant departments to deter the smuggling through
secret transportation along the key border areas and the circulation of
smuggled goods.
The 10 typical smuggling cases cracked by China Customs
in 2014 were as follows:
1. The smuggling case of tobacco and
liquor cracked by Guangzhou Customs District
In March 2014, under the direction of Anti-smuggling
Bureau of the General Administration of Customs, Guangzhou Customs District,
together with Shenzhen, Huangpu, Zhanjiang
and Nanning Customs Districts, mounted an operation and intercepted an
especially big smuggling case of luxury tobacco and liquor. The case involved
an evaded revenue of RMB 2.58 billion. 27 suspects were captured in the case.
2. The series of smuggling cases of leather cracked by Huangpu
Customs District
In March 2014, Huangpu Customs District launched an
operation codenamed “Iron Fist” to fight against leather
smuggling. A series of smuggling cases were intercepted, among which 29 were
filed for investigation. 11 smuggling gangs and 89 suspects were smashed and
seized in the operation.
3. The rice smuggling case cracked by Nanning Customs
District
In July 2014, Nanning Customs District intercepted a
smuggling case in which smugglers tried to smuggle in tons of rice through
places where there are no Customs presence. 30,700 tons of rice was seized in
the case and 9 suspects were arrested.
4. The series of car smuggling cases cracked by Dalian, Shanghai
and Tianjin Customs Districts
On June 20, 2014, Anti-smuggling Bureau of Dalian,
Shanghaiand Tianjin Customs Districts mounted an operation together under the
guidance of Anti-smuggling Bureau of the General Administration of Customs. A
number of car smuggling cases were intercepted in the operation, among which 20
were filed for investigation. Customs officers found out in the investigation
that the enterprises involved had tried to smuggle in luxury cars by way of
under-invoicing. By far, Customs officers had identified more than 4,700
smuggled cars with a street value of RMB3.82 billion.
5. The case of smuggling out magnesia
cracked by Nanjing, Dalianand Qingdao Customs
Districts
In June 2014, Nanjing,
Dalianand Qingdao Customs Districts co-launched an operation to crack down on
the activities of smuggling out resource products in Jiangsu Province, Liaoning
Province, Shandong
Province, Guangdong Province, Fujian Province and Hubei Province. A total of 127,000 tons of
magnesia and ferrosilicon was seized. And 35 suspects were arrested in the
operation.
6. The drug trafficking case cracked
by Kunming Customs District
In October 2014, Kunming Customs District intercepted an
especially big drug trafficking case. Customs officers seized 72.6 kilograms of
ice which was bought from Burma
and smuggled in through a place along the China-Burma border where there is no
Customs presence. 4 suspects were captured in the case.
7. The weapons and ammunitions smuggling case cracked by
Hangzhou Customs District
In January 2014, Hangzhou Customs District cracked a
weapons and ammunitions smuggling case. Customs officers seized 31 guns
and 3,312 plumbs and arrested 9 suspects, with the help
of another 5 Customs districts and the police officers from 15 provinces,
autonomous regions and municipalities.
8. The beef smuggling case cracked by Chongqing Customs
District
in May 2014, Chongqing Customs District intercepted a
frozen meat smuggling case done by a whole family. Customs officers seized
5,840 tons of beef which was smuggled in through places in the border areas of
Guangxi and Yunnan
provinces where there are no Customs presence. 17 suspects were also captured
in the case.
9. The solid waste smuggling case
cracked by Nanning Customs District
In February 2014, Nanjing Customs District intercepted a
smuggling case involing approximately 60,000 tons of solid wastes seized and 10
suspects arrested.
Customs officers found out through investigation that the smuggling gang involved, , was trying, by false-declaring the products as “iron-ore”,to smuggle in blast furnace dust and blast furnace slag whose importation is forbidden.
10. The red sandalwood smuggling case cracked by Qingdao Customs District
In May 2014, Qingdao Customs District cracked a case in which smugglers tried
to smuggle in red sandalwood, a precious species. Customs officers seized in
the case 1,255 tons of red sandalwood smuggled in by false declaration. 7
suspects were arrested.
General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China
Address: No.6. Jianguomennei Avenue, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China Postcode: 100730