There are signs that smuggling of seafood into China has reached epidemic proportions, resulting in a new government campaign seeking to clamp down on the illegal activity.
The “Sharp Sword 1601” campaign was recently mounted by customs authorities in a number of China’s eastern port cities including Qingdao, Dalian, Yantai and Rizhao. So far, it has destroyed three criminal gangs, according to a statement from China’s Ministry of Public Security, which oversees the country’s police force.
“They not only cheat taxes but they also create unfair competition and disorderly markets,” the statement said.
The statement from China’s Ministry of Public Security blamed smugglers for damaging local fishermen’s incomes promised a series of further policing campaigns, including one it dubbed the “Five Big Battles Campaign.”
Chinese authorities claim to have captured 30,000 tons of seafood worth CNY 460 million (USD 70.8 million, EUR 62 million) that was smuggled into the country this spring. The seized goods include large quantities of chilled and frozen squid.
Though Chinese authorities run regular anti-smuggling campaigns, it has become a particular area of focus due to rising levels of smuggling, particularly across the country’s border with Vietnam.
Complicating the issue is the belief that widespread corruption at land-border crossings is resulting in the larger inflows of unregulated seafood, and that individual port authorities are colluding with government-owned fishing companies to land catches outside of traditional customs channels.
In addition, China has systematically underreported its growing international catch. However, in the past year China has sought to tighten smuggling in order to increase government’s tax take.
