Hundreds of illegal radio stations busted in China
Most operated in homes and many were involved in scams or selling fake medicines, according to state media
Police in northeast China busted over 300 illegal radio stations for hawking fake medicines, promoting scams or threatening aviation safety through their transmissions, state media reported.
The authorities in Shenyang in Liaoning province uncovered 66 underground radio stations from January to April, adding to the 225 busted last year, the state-run news agency Xinhua reported.
“It was like harvesting garlic chives. A new batch would always spring up soon after you cut the previous batch,” Liu Weidong, director of Shenyang’s wireless regulator, was quoted as saying.
The radio stations had not obtained permission to operate from the municipal radio and television authorities or wireless regulator and were mostly set up in homes, the report said.
A set of radio broadcasting equipment cost about 20,000 yuan (HK$24,000) two years ago when illegal stations were still a novelty, but can now be ordered online for a few thousand yuan and delivered in a few days.