A group smuggling a large quantity of Chinese seedlings, whose import is prohibited, was caught by customs authorities.
The Incheon Regional Customs Office of the Korea Customs Service announced on the 3rd that it had identified and sent five suspects, including the ringleader Mr. A (61), for prosecution without detention on charges of violating the Customs Act for smuggling 210,000 seedlings (apple and grape trees) worth approximately 180 million KRW from China.
Incheon Customs received information from the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency about the detection of prohibited seedlings during an inspection of quarantine items stored in a bonded warehouse and launched an investigation. They uncovered the full extent of the crimes committed by Mr. A, Mr. B (47), an employee of a freight forwarding company who assisted Mr. A, Mr. C (49), a bonded warehouse employee, and three others.
Investigation revealed that Mr. A, who operated an agricultural corporation, conspired with Mr. C and others to commit the crime after the import of apple tree seedlings was banned due to concerns over fire blight (a bacterial disease).
They smuggled the prohibited seedlings by packing legally imported goods and smuggled goods separately in boxes sealed with tape, bringing them into the country. At night, they separated the smuggled boxes in the bonded warehouse and illegally removed them.
All smuggled seedlings were promptly destroyed by the Quarantine Agency, and it was confirmed that no damage was caused to domestic fruit farms. Incheon Customs plans to impose strict administrative measures such as business suspension on the involved freight forwarding company and bonded warehouse based on the investigation results.
An official from Incheon Customs stated, “We will respond strictly to acts of collusion with those involved in customs administration to attempt smuggling, and strengthen crackdowns on smuggling to protect domestic farms and ensure public safety.”
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