This isn’t the first time we’ve told you about attempts to cross Chinese customs. Between CPUs and SSDs wrapped around your waist, graphics cards in lobsters, or hardware hidden in scooters… Being a Chinese customs officer can’t be a sinecure (that’s true). Today, customs officers are back again, with a man attempting to pass through the checkpoint with 420 memory modules wrapped around his legs!
Man intercepted with 420 memory modules at Chinese customs!
As always, the primary motivation for this type of practice is the lure of profit. Once again, the individual was arrested while attempting to cross from Hong Kong into China via the Gongbei border crossing linking the two. In Hong Kong, VAT is simply 0%, whereas in China it is 13%. Enough to make a nice capital gain on resale.
On the other hand, the smuggler’s lack of originality in simply wrapping the cargo around his legs is noteworthy. 420 memory modules don’t go unnoticed, and that’s what alerted customs officials to the irregular shape of his legs.
However, while we know the number of RAM modules, we don’t know the type. But given the color of the PCBs, it wouldn’t be surprising to find DDR2 or DDR3 modules, or server RAM .
The amount of the damage is not known. However, smuggling attempts are on the rise. Since the beginning of the year, the estimated cost of these smuggles is $4 million… At least on intercepted shipments!
