Guangxi Coast Guard busts three suspected smuggling operations in 24 hours

(ECNS) -- The Fangchenggang Coast Guard Bureau in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region said on Wednesday that it recently conducted a targeted anti-smuggling operation, busting three suspected smuggling cases within 24 hours.

The authority apprehended three individuals, and seized two single-engine jet skis, three wooden rafts, 2,960 cartons of cigarettes, and three metric tons of frozen goods, with a total estimated case value of approximately one million yuan ($136,798).

At around 10 p.m. last Thursday, an enforcement vessel from the Fangcheng workstation of the bureau was patrolling near the Wan’ou waters when it spotted a jet ski with its navigation lights turned off. The jet ski’s cabin was packed with numerous gray woven bags, raising suspicion.

Officers immediately approached and ordered the vessel to stop for inspection, but the jet ski refused to comply and accelerated to flee.

After a pursuit lasting more than 10 minutes, the vessel ran aground and abandoned. The suspect fled on foot.

Upon inspection, the jet ski was found to be carrying 60 cases of suspected smuggled cigarettes, because no legal documentation for the cigarettes was found on-site.

In addition, on last Thursday and last Friday, the bureau uncovered two more smuggling cases in its jurisdictional waters. Three suspects were arrested on-site, and one jet ski and three wooden rafts were seized. A total of three metric tons of frozen goods were confiscated.