SHENZHEN Customs, in cooperation with local police, recently busted a criminal ring that was smuggling cosmetics, formula milk and red wine into the Chinese mainland through an e-commerce platform, customs reported. A total of 36 suspects were seized for smuggling products valued at 600 million yuan (US$92 million). The suspects used counterfeit contracts and documents to declare to customs and import the products in the form of e-commerce purchases from the sellers overseas. The products were transported to customs bonded warehouses. Then they made fake orders, payment slips and logistics certificates to transport the products in the warehouse to the buyers in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Fujian. Shenzhen Customs reminds e-commerce platforms (enterprises) of conducting due diligence over the identities of buyers and not participating in manufacturing counterfeit contracts, invoices and bills of loadings, otherwise they will be punished or held for criminal liabilities. (Han Ximin) |