Gongbei port authorities in China intercepted a shipment that aimed to move 780 Intel processors valued at about one million yuan, roughly 13 million rubles at the current exchange rate. The discovery highlights ongoing efforts to curb illicit tech trade at major border crossings.
The plan involved concealing the processors inside a passenger bus engine. The smuggling attempt almost worked because metal detectors did not flag anything suspicious, and an initial read of the vehicle by officers mistook the container for ordinary cargo. A careful, hands-on inspection later revealed a crate holding Intel components, though officials did not disclose the exact processor model. The revelation about the container came from coverage by a tech-focused outlet at the time.
Details about any charges or punishment faced by the alleged smugglers have not been made public by authorities following the discovery.
The coverage points to a sizable gray market for computer electronics in China, where Intel processors can sometimes be purchased well below typical retail prices. To avoid taxes and regulatory checks, smugglers employ a variety of deceptive tactics to move components across borders. For example, in December 2022, at the same Gongbei port, customs officials stopped a traveler returning to China who carried a silicone core packed with hundreds of Alder Lake processors. This earlier case illustrates a pattern of evasion strategies reported by the outlet and underscores the ongoing difficulties for authorities in stamping out illicit tech trade.
In related corporate news, Lei Jun, previously at the helm of Xiaomi, was reported to be testing the company’s electric vehicle initiatives. This development signals how major tech firms are expanding beyond their core products into adjacent technology sectors, a trend repeatedly discussed in industry analyses that monitor how hardware makers diversify their product ecosystems and venture into new markets.