The WeChat public account “China Anti-Drug” reported that when traveling across borders or handling luggage, one should comply with legal regulations. However, some individuals attempt to take advantage of the convenience of “transiting through airports” to extend their criminal activities beyond national borders, and ultimately they cannot escape justice. Not long ago, the Fourth Branch of the Beijing People's Procuratorate handled a case involving foreign nationals who smuggled marijuana using checked luggage. Two defendants were sentenced by the court to eight years and four years of imprisonment, respectively, along with fines and deportation.
In June 2025, an international flight stopped at Beijing Capital International Airport. Customs officers were conducting risk assessments on passengers' luggage when they noticed four pieces of luggage with abnormal images. They promptly intercepted and inspected the luggage, and found a large quantity of suspected marijuana products, totaling over 70 kilograms. Upon rapid drug testing, the substances contained tetrahydrocannabinol. The customs anti-smuggling department initiated an investigation on the same day, and quickly identified two foreign passengers involved in the smuggling. After investigation, it was determined that...
The procuratorial authorities concluded that the two defendants violated Chinese drug management regulations and customs laws by illegally carrying and transporting drugs into the country, despite being aware of their nature. Their actions constituted an offense under Article 347 of the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China, and they were suspected of drug smuggling. Upon weighing and analysis, it was determined that the involved drugs were marijuana, with a net weight of 70,830.9 grams. This constitutes the case of smuggling ‘other drugs in a significant quantity,’ and criminal responsibility should be pursued according to the law.
The two defendants argued that they only carried out a “transit transfer” and that their destination was not China, and they did not cause any substantial harm to China. The prosecution stated that China always maintains a “zero tolerance” approach towards drug crimes. No matter the nationality of the perpetrator or the ultimate destination of the drugs, those involved will be severely punished according to the law. After being explained the law and presented evidence by the prosecution, the two defendants eventually confessed truthfully and voluntarily pleaded guilty and accepted punishment.
In this case, the two defendants believed that "short-term transit" would allow them to avoid punishment, but what they ultimately faced was severe sanctions under Chinese law. Special reminder:
1. Transit does not mean “off the law”: International transit travelers often believe that leaving the airport does not subject them to Chinese laws, which is a very dangerous misunderstanding. Any person or luggage that enters or exits China’s borders must comply with Chinese laws and regulations. Bringing drugs into the country, regardless of whether one leaves the airport or where they go, constitutes a crime.
2. Assisting others in carrying goods is not a "minor matter": In this case, two defendants, seeking illegal profits, helped others transport drugs across national borders, and eventually ended up in jail. In recent years, drug trafficking gangs from abroad have often offered high salaries as inducements to recruit people into drug smuggling activities. The public must remain vigilant and avoid becoming "tool people" in crimes by succumbing to momentary greed and carrying unknown items into the country on behalf of others.
3. Challenging regulations is not a “smart move”: At this stage, customs supervision has achieved intelligence, informatization, and precision. Technologies such as baggage image analysis, risk warning models, and big data analysis can effectively identify smuggling activities such as concealment, smuggling by deception, and false reporting. Any attempt to “switch flights” or “cross the border” in order to evade regulation will ultimately be uncovered.
Article 347 of the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China: Anyone who smuggles, sells, transports, or manufactures drugs, regardless of the quantity involved, shall be held criminally responsible and subject to criminal punishment.
Article 82 of the Customs Law of the People’s Republic of China: Any act of evading customs supervision, failing to pay the applicable taxes, or avoiding the national prohibitive or restrictive regulations regarding the entry and exit of goods and articles, or transporting, carrying, or mailing goods and articles that are prohibited or restricted from entering or exiting the country, or those for which taxes should be paid according to law, is considered a smuggling act.
