Customs finds US$330,000 stashed in pillow, cake bags of 2 men trying to cross into Hong Kong from mainland China
- Mainland’s General Administration of Customs says two men, who were departing in a group, stopped at Luohu border checkpoint after abnormalities detected in luggage
- Thirty-five stacks of US$100 bills subsequently found in a pillow, books and cake bags
Mainland Chinese customs officers have intercepted about US$330,000 in banknotes from two visitors who hid some of the cash in a pillow and bags of cake while attempting to enter Hong Kong.
The General Administration of Customs said on Monday that the two men, who were departing in a group, were stopped at the Luohu border checkpoint building in recent days after an X-ray scanner detected abnormalities in their luggage.
Thirty-five stacks of US$100 bills amounting to about US$330,000 were subsequently found in a pillow, books and bags of cake, it said.
Under mainland laws, inbound and outbound passengers carrying over 20,000 yuan, or more than US$5,000 or an equivalent amount in other foreign currencies, in cash, must make a declaration to customs.
On April 20, Luohu customs also caught a passenger trying to bring US$88,600 into Hong Kong. Nine stacks of US dollar bills were found in the passenger’s trouser pockets, shoe soles and backpack, as well as round the waist and abdomen area.
Early last month, Huanggang port’s customs detected another Hong Kong-bound traveller carrying US$195,400 in cash in a backpack.