Northern District Community Services Consultancy Council (CCSCZN) member Kuan Cheong Wun Ian said on Thursday that parallel traders are back in business as quarantine requirements between Macao and Zhuhai have been lifted, with some even taking advantage of cross-border pupils to get them to carry illegal goods across the border.
Cheong made the remarks during the council’s general meeting at the Government Services Centre in Areia Preta.
Cheong said that based on information from the Macao Customs Service since 10 am on 17 July a total of 66 illegal cases have been reported by both Macao and mainland customs, such as dutiable goods that include cosmetics, used mobile phones, game consoles, and 22,351 cigarettes. A total of 51 offenders have been charged with smuggling.
Some parallel traders even put cigarettes in the backpacks of cross-border pupils studying in schools in the northern district as the children have to travel between Macao and Zhuhai frequently, making smuggling more “convenient” for the parallel traders, Cheong pointed out.
This form of exploitation done by parallel traders can have a negative impact on the pupils as they are still mentally developing, Cheong said, adding that their action may be against the law as well.
To address the issue, Cheong urged the government and schools to educate pupils on laws regulating illegal trade to teach them the difference between right and wrong, to prevent them from being easily exploited by criminals.
Cheong also urged the government to remind local residents and non-resident workers that smuggling is a serious offence, as well as to regularly check on suspected parallel traders’ activities close to the Barrier Gate.
Cheong recommended further that the Macao and mainland customs authorities should continue to fight illegal cross-border trading activities by stopping habitual border-passers to check their bags for suspicious goods.
(The Macau Post Daily/Macau News)
