In early August, customs officers at the Gongbei Port border crossing between mainland China and Macau (China) became suspicious of a passenger using an electric wheelchair. Believing the wheelchair showed signs of tampering, officials conducted an X-ray inspection and discovered that it was being used to smuggle used mobile phones into China.
A Macau resident surnamed Chen entered mainland China on August 3 using an electric wheelchair, passing through the “undeclared” line at the passenger inspection hall at Gongbei Port. Customs officers noticed that the wheelchair showed signs of tampering and was stopped for further inspection.
After discovering anomalies in the scanned image of the wheelchair, officials began dismantling the mobility aid. They discovered that the battery compartment had been modified, and inside it were 121 old cell phones.
According to Chinese law, any act aimed at avoiding customs control “By concealing, camouflaging, concealing, forging, or otherwise, transporting, carrying, or sending by mail goods or things the import or export of which is prohibited or restricted, or goods, commodities, or things subject to tax which are considered smuggled.”
While reports do not indicate whether Chen will face criminal charges for the smuggling operation, it is entirely possible. Chen could be tried for criminal liability if a Chinese court deems the act serious enough to constitute a crime.
The use of electric wheelchairs and scooters to smuggle items has become increasingly common. In China alone, there have been at least three cases in the past year of passengers being found hiding items in hidden compartments in their wheelchairs.
In December 2023, a passenger was caught hiding 300 Nintendo Switch game cartridges in his wheelchair. In two other cases, in August 2023 and March this year, Chinese customs officials seized 328 mobile phones hidden in electric wheelchairs. In another incident in March 2023, a man tried to smuggle 84 SSD storage devices inside a recreational motorcycle.