Police seize 600 smuggled iPhone 6's as travellers cross Shenzhen border
Smugglers conceal gadgets under piles of food and in cars after Apple's launch in Hong Kong
Shenzhen authorities have seized more than 600 smuggled iPhone 6’s within three days after the phones officially hit the shelves in neighbouring Hong Kong.
Customs authorities in Shenzhen’s Huanggang and Futian ports caught 36 travellers hiding hundreds of phones, in total, in their luggage or vehicles, the China News Service said on Monday.
They also found nearly 1,000 items of packaging and accessories for the iPhone 6 and the larger model iPhone 6 Plus.
Most of those caught were young travellers, some of whom confessed that he phones were bound for sale in the electronics quarter of Shenzhen’s Huaqiang North market.
One 17-year-old traveller, who was dressed like a student, arrived at Futian port carrying a large box of tea leaves on September 19 – the first day that the phones went on sale in hong Kong – but stirred authorities’ suspicion when he avoided X-ray scanners.
He was pulled aside for a routine inspection, and officers found there were no tea leaves in the box but three brand-new iPhone 6’s, the report said.