Chinese police are holding 16 suspects, accused of trying to
smuggle around 1.05 tons of silver and silver products valued at
3.5 million yuan (US$437,500) from Shenzhen into neighboring Hong
Kong.
This stands as one of the largest recent silver-smuggling cases
uncovered by Shenzhen Customs, a spokesman with the Anti-smuggling
Bureau of Shenzhen Customs said on Monday.
Acting on a tip-off, over 80 police officers stormed three
smuggling hideouts in the Bao'an and Nanshan districts of Shenzhen
and Guangzhou's Panyu District on the afternoon of June 20, the
spokesman said.
They seized 1.05 tons of silver and silver products, such as
beads and plates, and confiscated 11 vehicles during the nighttime
raid, he said.
An investigation continues into the case but it appears the gang
had been smuggling silver between Shenzhen and Hong Kong for a long
period of time.
(Xinhua News Agency June 25, 2007)