Illegally smuggled used clothes worth RMB11 mn seized in Shenzhen borders
A ship has been seized off the coast of Shenzhen, China and six people have been arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle around 549 tons of used clothes by boat into the country through Hong Kong. The seized items were worth more than RMB11 million (HK$12.8 million), according to the China Coast Guard in Shenzhen.
Authorities also believe that the clothes came from morgues and trash dumps outside of China.The suspects were quoted as saying that they bought the used clothes from overseas recycling companies for a low price, several yuan for each.
Dealers would then clean or repair the clothes and sell items at low prices – from around RMB 10 to 100 in Shenzhen.
There were bloodstains on some of the clothes. The used clothes were also closely packed in the boat, sending out a strong, foul smell, according to reports. Initial reports did not specify which country the clothes came from.
Wei Fang, a doctor at the Disinfection and Vector Control Division at the Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, says that the clothes could carry germs and viruses.
The boat initially ignored a police warning and attempted to return to Hong Kong before it was boarded.Six suspects were apprehended on the border of Shenzhen, four are Taiwanese and one a Chinese national from Fujian with a fake Taiwanese passport. All are currently in detention.
The arrests were made in June, but details were only released by the police this week.
According to earlier reports, the six suspects were allegedly responsible for shipping the items. Their partners in Fujian are still being tracked down. Shenzhen customs officials are filing criminal lawsuits against the suspects for violating regulations regarding the import of solid waste.
Liu Sinlin, director of the Kwai Chung border station of the Shenzhen border guards, says the clothes were being transported to Putian, Fujian Province. However, some of the suspects have reportedly said some clothes will also be shipped to Taiwan.
Importing used clothes is banned in China. Many old clothes, which have not been sterilized, could spread infectious diseases, posing a severe public health threat.
Chinese law bans the importation of some types of solid waste, including electronics, medical and construction waste and mineral slag, in addition to used clothing.
The country tightened customs checks for the importation of illicit solid wastes in 2013.
