China faces a growing phenomenon of smuggling of computer components. Recently, a man in possession of several hundred processors was arrested by customs.
Chinese customs authorities have established an alarming observation: computer equipment is increasingly present in smuggling networks. Over the last two years, the total value of seizures would reach 4 million dollars. In the port of Qingmao, a rather cheeky individual was intercepted by customs with 306 Intel processors strapped around his belly to smuggle them into China.
A bold attempt
At the time of his arrest, the man in question was wearing loose clothing. This outfit had allowed him to hide and fix all the processors using adhesive packaging. No precise details have leaked as to the exact nature of the processors. However, the capacitors present at the back of the chips would be typical of those used by the Intel company.
Such an attempt is justified by tax reasons. Goods traveling to mainland China are subject to a 13% tax. In contrast, places such as Hong Kong are completely free of this tax. The man arrested therefore certainly wanted to resell his goods on the territory by freeing himself from them.
Contraband on the rise
This incident is far from isolated, and Chinese customs are stepping up their efforts to contain this smuggling phenomenon. Despite national inflation below 1%, attempts are increasing. Local computer hardware vendors would benefit the most and are clearly fueling this trend. Recently, a similar fact had been reported. A man was caught by Chinese customs with 420 M.2 SSDs on his belt, worth a total of $32,000.
In China, criminal penalties for smuggling vary greatly depending on the nature of the goods or the circumstances of the arrest. The lightest sentence is equivalent to two years of imprisonment, but the heaviest sentences can be spread over several decades.
In the months to come, it’s a safe bet that the Chinese government will tighten the screws to curb this growing effect of smuggling. The economic motivations animating these unsuccessful attempts are not to be taken lightly. According to the latest World Bank report, 19% of the country’s population still lives below the poverty line, or 273 million people.
Sources: Wccftech, International mail
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