China's anti-smuggling situation remains severe as smuggling
techniques become increasingly sophisticated, but tariff losses
caused by smuggling have continued to fall thanks to the continuous
large-scale crackdown in recent years.
Customs and police departments have prosecuted more than 90,000
smuggling cases involving goods worth 200 billion yuan (US$24.2
billion) over the past five years, during which China has brought
large-scale smuggling under control, said Sheng Guangzu, deputy
director of the General Administration of Customs (GAC) at a press
conference.
Statistics indicated that the customs anti-smuggling police had
punished 18,046 smuggling suspects, among whom 9,719 were
transferred to the procuratorial departments.
Large-scale smuggling of key sensitive goods, such as automobiles,
motorcycles, finished oil products, cigarettes and light-sensitive
materials was were being brought under control, Sheng said.
Relevant domestic industries, regular import and export orders and
market economy had been safeguarded.
"Smuggling activities from Hong Kong to the mainland are decreasing
progressively, and the difference between Hong Kong and mainland's
statistical import and export amount is almost balanced," he
said.
And the customs' anti-smuggling campaign was stepped up in order to
cope with the changing domestic and international environment, he
noted.
"Frauds in commodity value and smuggling activities through the
processing trade are still on the rise," Sheng said. Smuggling of
refined oil is rampant in key sea areas through the southern
provinces and regions of Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian to northern
and western China.
Moreover, smuggling activities through passenger channels as well
as non-tariff related smuggling of waste and drugs are sharply
increasing, said the deputy director.
Since the beginning of this year, the customs has launched a series
of crackdowns on the smuggling of foreign fruit, solid waste,
frozen products and smuggling through illegal concealment, said Lu
Bin, director of the GAC's Anti-smuggling Department.
The customs departments have investigated some 13,800 smuggling
cases, including some 7,000 criminal cases, during the first nine
months, he said.
"We will maintain pressure against smuggling activities," said
Lu.
Sheng said China would seek the establishment of a long-term
counter-smuggling mechanism through a series of measures, such as
to improve the anti-smuggling legal system, and strengthen
supervision towards the logistics of imported and exported
goods.
GAC will also enhance co-operation with the Hong Kong and Macao
special administrative regions as well as the customs of major
trading partners to jointly combat transnational smuggling and
customs fraud, he said.
Int'l cooperation expanded to combat
smuggling
A top Chinese customs official vowed in Beijing Tuesday to
enhance cooperation between Hong Kong, Macao and major Chinese
trade partners to combat international smuggling activities and
customs fraud.
China has "effectively" contained massive smuggling activities
since 1998 when it launched a nationwide campaign to fight against
the crime, Sheng Guangzu, deputy director of the General
Administration of Customs, told a press conference.
"However, under new circumstances, smuggling situation remains
severe and smugglers have become more shrewd," Sheng said. "That
poses new challenges to the anti-smuggling task."
Currently, smuggling of refined oil is also rampant in key sea
areas, he said. In addition, non-tarrif related smuggling cases,
such as waste products and drugs, are also rising.
"All that shows as long as the price difference between domestic
and international market and trade restrictions exist, smugglers
will never stop risking themselves for huge profits despite severe
punishment of law," he noted.
To carry out further the fight against smuggling, Sheng said,
China will adopt a series of measures, such as improving the
customs' anti-smuggling legal system, establishing a defense
against commercial price fraud, a credit management system for
businesses, and a strict supervision and control of imported and
exported goods.
Statistics show that Chinese customs have investigated some
13,800 smuggling cases, including some 7,000 criminal cases, during
the January-September period this year.
During the period, compulsory measures have been adopted on
2,314 suspected smuggling criminals, which is roughly equal to that
of last year.
(Xinhua News Agency October 27, 2004))