Smugglers get increasingly shrewd
By Jiang Zhuqing (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-10-26 22:51

China's anti-smuggling situation remains severe as smuggling techniques become increasingly sophisticated, but tariff losses caused by smuggling have continued to fall thanks to the continuous large-scale crackdown in recent years.

Customs and police departments have prosecuted more than 90,000 smuggling cases involving goods worth 200 billion yuan (US$24.2 billion) over the past five years, during which China has brought large-scale smuggling under control, said Sheng Guangzu, deputy director of the General Administration of Customs (GAC) at a press conference.

Statistics indicated that the customs anti-smuggling police had punished 18,046 smuggling suspects, among whom 9,719 were transferred to the procuratorial departments.

Large-scale smuggling of key sensitive goods, such as automobiles, motorcycles, finished oil products, cigarettes and light-sensitive materials was were being brought under control, Sheng said.

Relevant domestic industries, regular import and export orders and market economy had been safeguarded.

"Smuggling activities from Hong Kong to the mainland are decreasing progressively, and the difference between Hong Kong and mainland's statistical import and export amount is almost balanced," he said.

And the customs' anti-smuggling campaign was stepped up in order to cope with the changing domestic and international environment, he noted.

"Frauds in commodity value and smuggling activities through the processing trade are still on the rise," Sheng said. Smuggling of refined oil is rampant in key sea areas through the southern provinces and regions of Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian to northern and western China.

Moreover, smuggling activities through passenger channels as well as non-tariff related smuggling of waste and drugs are sharply increasing, said the deputy director.

Since the beginning of this year, the customs has launched a series of crackdowns on the smuggling of foreign fruit, solid waste, frozen products and smuggling through illegal concealment, said Lu Bin, director of the GAC's Anti-smuggling Department.

The customs departments have investigated some 13,800 smuggling cases, including some 7,000 criminal cases, during the first nine months, he said.

"We will maintain pressure against smuggling activities," said Lu.

Sheng said China would seek the establishment of a long-term counter-smuggling mechanism through a series of measures, such as to improve the anti-smuggling legal system, and strengthen supervision towards the logistics of imported and exported goods.

GAC will also enhance co-operation with the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions as well as the customs of major trading partners to jointly combat transnational smuggling and customs fraud, he said.

Close

Today's Top News     Top China News
Nine provinces may face winter blackouts         China, ASEAN agree to end tariffs         US arms sales to Taiwan opposed -- Hu         China trade to reach US$1.1 trillion in 2004         UN: 400 tons of Iraq explosives missing         Changsha bus blast injures over 40 people	Henan mine blast death toll rises to 122       Foreign firms urged to allow trade unions       US arms sales to Taiwan opposed -- Hu       Nine provinces may face winter blackouts       Income gap still large in Shanghai       Housing price up 13% in first three quarters