Three men caught by Macau customs strapping smartphones on their bodies

Three men were caught by Macau customs trying to smuggle over 228 phones by strapping the phones onto their bodies and hiding the phones in their luggage. 

Their smuggling attempt was revealed by Macau customs officers on Thursday night as the three men aged 47 to 55 traveled to the casino city on the HZM “Golden” coach bus. 

As they were crossing the border into Macau, officers targeted and intercepted them through intelligence analysis, and found the men strapped the phones onto their chest, waist, thighs and calves. Some of the phones were hidden in their luggage as well. 

After investigation by Macau customs, the men admitted they were paid to smuggle the phones across the border. 

Macau customs have initiated prosecution against the three in accordance with Macau law and confiscated the phones they were trying to smuggle. The trio, upon conviction, could be fined up to MOP 50,000 (HK$48,600). 

This incident followed another similar smuggling attempt involving a Hong Kong woman in her 70s. She was intercepted by Macau customs last Wednesday (Jun 7) and officers caught her trying to smuggle 46 old phones to the mainland by wrapping the phones around her waist and thighs. 

Macau customs said they will strengthen their work on collecting intelligence and step up their efforts in searching people in order to combat illegal trafficking activities.