Woman Arrested in China for Smuggling Contraband, Including 102 iPhones


According to a report by XMNN (via AppleInsider), Chinese officials have caught a woman smuggling 42 pounds of contraband into the country from Hong Kong, including 102 iPhones and fifteen high-end watches.

The publication notes that Shenzhen customs officers noticed the woman with “unusual bulges and strange body proportions” progressing through customs on her way back from Hong Kong on June 30.

22038 26196 00300151994 29792183 l

When the officials pulled her aside for search, she was found to have four layers of iPhones wrapped around her torso and waist, sealed in plastic and securely fitted. 

22038 26198 00300151992 d862b4ba xl

22038 26199 00300151993 a4386e9a xl

22038 26197 00300151991 43a117df xl

“Shenzhen officials claimed after the search that they normally spot smugglers with “less than a dozen” iPhones trying to get into the country, but periodically get people with 70 to 80 of the devices. For this squad, the 102 iPhones with 15 watches was a record”.

Prices for the iPhone can vary greatly between the China mainland and Hong Kong, with devices costing up to 30% more in the mainland because of much higher taxes.