 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Smuggling Tunnel To Hong Kong Uncovered
Beijing, China (SPX) Sep 15, 2006 Seven suspected smugglers have been arrested for digging an underground tunnel to sneak mobile phones and electronic parts into Shenzhen from Hong Kong, customs officials announced yesterday. The suspected smuggling gang rented an apartment on the first floor of a building in Shatoujiao, Yantian District, on Aug. 10. The building, less than five meters from the security fence on the border, used to be the dormitory of a factory. From the 12-square-meter room, they dug a 20-meter tunnel one meter under the ground, which was connected to a manhole half-covered by grass on the Hong Kong side. The anti-smuggling task force of Shenzhen Customs was tipped off about the gang's activities in early August. After following and monitoring the gang for about 20 days, the customs police raided the apartment and caught seven people with undeclared imported goods, including 120,000 IC chips, and 339 Motorola and 465 Nokia mobiles, on Aug. 25. The suspects were allegedly controlled by a Hong Kong ringleader who was also responsible for supplying the goods. Another Hong Konger who was identified by his surname Li would transport the goods to the border. Two local men, surnamed Ye and Li, were other leaders in Shenzhen, according to the customs. "The smuggling was obviously organized and well-planned," said Song Min, vice director with the customs' anti-smuggling department. The gang hired people to keep watch when delivering goods and were equipped with walkie talkies. They would slide goods from the balcony into a van. Ironically, the room that connected with the tunnel was only 50 meters away from the Shatoujiao branch of Shenzhen Customs. The suspects confessed that they had smuggled electronic products twice through the sewage system near a garage before deciding to use the apartment. They gave up the sewage passage for its unbearable odor. The seized electronic goods are worth 1.56 million yuan (195,000 U.S. dollars) with 272,900 yuan (34,300 dollars) in payable taxes and tariffs, the customs said. "They could smuggle goods of some 500 million yuan (63 million dollars) a year if not being caught," said Song. Due to high-profile crackdowns on smuggling initiated by Shenzhen Customs in recent years, smugglers have to turn to more novel, secret means, the customs said. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links 21st Century Pirates 21st Century Pirates
US Committed To Security In Malacca Strait Says Top Navy Official
Kuala Lumpur (AFP) Jul 17, 2006The United States is prepared to share maritime expertise with Malaysia to fight piracy in the troubled Malacca Strait, a visiting admiral said Monday. "It is a vital strait not just locally but internationally. It is one that we all have an interest in," the chief of US naval operations, Admiral Michael Mullen, told reporters. |
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
