Smuggler arrested in China with hundreds of SSDs bound to his body

In a recent incident highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by the hardware market in China, authorities discovered a rare case of smuggling at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau border. With escalating prices and restrictions affecting the availability of computer hardware, illicit methods of procurement have become increasingly prevalent.

Smuggler arrested in China with hundreds of SSDs bound to his body

The Chinese Customs Office encountered an intriguing case involving a smuggler who had ingeniously concealed dozens of M.2 SSDs within his body. This incident sheds light on the persistent demand for hardware and the lengths some individuals are willing to go to bypass regulations in the pursuit of profit.

Smuggler concealed $32,984 worth of M.2 SSDs in his body

Chinese news outlet HKEPC (via Tom's Hardware) reports on the latest failed hardware smuggling attempt in Asia, revealing that a smuggler attempted to transport 420 M.2 SSDs worth around HK$258,000 or $32,984.94 from Macau to Zhuhai through the Gongbei Port.

This incident is not an isolated case, as there have been numerous similar reports of individuals resorting to smuggling methods to evade customs duties and profit from selling these items on the grey market or reseller sites. Despite the risks involved and frequent apprehensions, the allure of potential profits continues to drive individuals to engage in such illegal activities.

For instance, China Customs intercepted a smuggler in March who was allegedly attempting to transport 239 Intel 13th Gen CPUs valued at $46,000. The CPUs were reportedly hidden by wrapping them around the smuggler's waist.

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