BEIJING: 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.（Customs Today Report）

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