Chinese smugglers' new ploy - mass charge through checkpoint(A human wave is alive)

Straits Times ^ | 08/29/04 | Theresa Tan

[TigerLikesRooster]

Chinese smugglers' new ploy - mass charge through checkpoint

By Theresa Tan

CHARGING through the border checkpoint at the Sha Tau Kok buffer zone en masse has become an adroit practice for hundreds of mainlanders smuggling goods a few times a day between China and Hong Kong.

These daily smugglers usually do their swarming act in the hour when the strength of the Customs is at its lowest.

According to Hong Kong's Oriental Daily News, that period is the shift-changing hour between 4pm and 5pm.

Hundreds of mainlanders carrying contraband goods, ranging from foodstuffs, diapers to video tapes, would congregate on either side of the checkpoint around that hour each day to prepare to rush the gates like a mob attack.

Often, the Customs officers are so overwhelmed by the crowd that many of the courier-smugglers manage to get through - some for the umpteenth time in a day.

Southern Metropolis Daily reported that those who made it through would hand their contraband to their colluders waiting on the other side and come back for another round.

Under the law, visitors to the buffer zone are allowed to make only one to-and-fro trip a day.

Most of the smugglers show no sign of fear or anxiety, with some even smiling amid the shoving and pushing, reported an Oriental Daily News journalist who witnessed one such scene.

Another first-hand report on Thursday, this from the Southern Metropolis, told of a group of more than 200 people turning up at about 5pm to rush the iron gates that barricade the checkpoint.

People on both sides of the gate were seen exchanging signs and watching out for a chance to 'strike' together.

Whenever the gates were opened for a vehicle to pass, one group would shout 'Charge!' and surge forward, trying to break through the barricade.

The Customs authorities subsequently called in dozens of policemen to help stop the group. That produced some results and stopped three attempts at charging through the gates.

A spokesman for the Shenzhen armed police told Southern Metropolis that the practice began about two years ago.

He said big-time smugglers had long been paying people to courier goods both ways across the border, taking advantage of the tax-free market on the Hong Kong side of the buffer zone, which in turn has a craving for exotic mainland stuff.

'But the gate-crashing method has emerged only one to two years ago,' he said.

A Hong Kong woman, who stays twice a week in an apartment she bought near Sha Tau Kok, said she was often woken up from her afternoon naps by the din of the smugglers.

'When the checkpoint opened this morning, nearly 100 people streaked across. Then at about 4pm, another 50 to 60 rushed through again,' said the woman.

She hoped more could be done to eliminate the smuggling activities and restore social order.

[TigerLikesRooster]

A good old fashioned Chinese "human wave" is now applied to smuggling. Chinese always go for quantity when pressed.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[Khurkris]

Here in Taiwan there have been several large 'tour groups' coming in from the PRC where most, of not all, of the 'tourists promptly disappear. Its happened 3 - 4 times in the last few months.

Committees are being formed to investigate this occurrence. A-Bian is on top of it.

[Vinnie_Vidi_Vici]

Here in Taiwan there have been several large 'tour groups' coming in from the PRC where most, of not all, of the 'tourists promptly disappear. Its happened 3 - 4 times in the last few months.

Committees are being formed to investigate this occurrence. A-Bian is on top of it.

Looks like they are infiltrating saboteurs and other 5th column types for a decapitation attack which will precede the invasion.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Yeah. Fifth columns. If China attacks Taiwan, I am 100% sure that China will make full use of fifth columns. It their favorite MO.

[bdfromlv]

Just like the Mazatlan related invaders in our south west. They may not be as organised but they will be the 5th column for the Mexican repatriation of the former mexican lands.

[adam_az]

There is a hip-hop term for this.

[adam_az]

"Yeah. Fifth columns. If China attacks Taiwan, I am 100% sure that China will make full use of fifth columns. It their favorite MO."

A big risk of using "sleeper cells" is that they tend to go to sleep.

Many will decide they like their new home better than the old. Taiwan is wealthier and freer. Some will even turn themselves in hoping to be rewarded for telling their piece of the plan.

[Malsua]

I don't understand? Is there no immigration control at this point?

I've crossed from Hong Kong to ShenZhen at this big bus stop area, where on one side, it's Hong Kong, walk through the building and the other side is ShenZhen China. I see THRONGS of people pass the customs guy without question, or searches or whatever. You must go through the immigration point though, which may be the difference.