Shanghai cracked a case of ＂internal and external collusion＂ smuggling cigarette gangs, and 20 people were arrested.

　　Xinhua News Agency, Shanghai, May 22 (Reporter Wu Yu, Wang Xi) Shanghai Customs announced on the 22nd that it had cracked a case of "water passengers" colluding with airport staff to smuggle cigarettes into the country, seized nearly 4,000 cigarettes of overseas brands, and arrested 20 people involved, including 16 in criminal detention and 4 on bail pending trial.

　　On the evening of April 21, the "water passengers" involved in the case took two flights respectively and arrived at Pudong International Airport at 18: 00 and 21: 00 respectively. Ge Mou, an airline ground attendant, took advantage of his position to assist the smuggling of "water passengers" by taking the transit hall to bypass customs supervision. In the airport open-air parking lot, investigators arrested four "water passengers" and a black car driver, and seized nearly 800 overseas cigarettes on the spot. That night, the joint headquarters composed of Shanghai Customs, Shanghai Public Security Bureau and Shanghai Tobacco Monopoly Bureau continued to arrest and search the relevant airport staff and other "water passengers" separately, and smashed this cigarette smuggling gang in one fell swoop.

　　According to the Shanghai Customs anti-smuggling case handlers, this smuggling gang has nine "water passengers", most of whom are "post-90s". They buy and bring cigarettes into the country, and travel between Osaka and Shanghai three or four times a week on average.

　　It is interesting to note that in this cigarette smuggling gang case, six people are airline ground service personnel and airport-related staff. Relying on the convenience of being familiar with the terrain route of the airport and the working hours of various supervision departments, they take cigarettes out of the baggage sorting area at the international arrival and push them directly to the baggage carousel at home, or lead the "water passengers" to bypass the customs supervision channel, which has strong concealment.

　　It is understood that other people involved in the smuggling cigarette gang case are drivers, consignees, couriers, etc., who are responsible for receiving and transporting cigarettes involved and sending them to other places. At present, this case is under further investigation.