Han Ximin

    ximhan@126.com

    HUANGGANG Customs seized four Buddha relics dated from the 15th to 17th centuries from a passenger entering Shenzhen from Hong Kong on Feb. 29, it was announced over the weekend.

    The passenger, who carried the four gold-decorated copper Buddha statues, didn’t declare them to customs when he entered Huanggang Checkpoint in a private van.

    The four Buddha statues were wrapped and packed in a case of luggage and were confirmed by experts last week as centuries-old relics.

    The man claimed he bought the relics at an auction in the U.S. for more than 10 million yuan (US$1.54 million). The case has been handed to anti-smuggling department for investigation.

    According to customs, travelers need to declare to customs and proceed with cargo import procedures if they carry relics when going through border checkpoints. For relics purchased through auctions, the owners need to provide original trade certificates, transaction records and voluntarily declare them to customs.