A man tried to enter China with 160 Intel CPUs attached to his body, in a case that once again exposes the ridiculous plans that those who smuggle computer components are capable of concocting. This peculiar situation occurred on March 9, although it was only made official over the weekend through a Chinese Customs publication on Weibo.
According to the authorities of the Asian giant, the protagonist of this story – a man named Zeng – tried to enter the country through the Gongbei port of entry, on the border with Macao. In principle, he tried to do it through the channel that does not require a customs declaration; however, his strange posture and way of walking caught the attention of customs employees.
Thus, registering it they ran into a major attempt to smuggle PC components. According to the information available, the subject wore the 160 CPUs taped to the calves, waist and abdomen. Chinese Customs authorities released a short video of the smuggler's arrest operation; it shows that the hardware in question corresponds to 11th and 12th generation Intel processors.
But as if that were not enough, the smuggler was carrying 16 smartphones that he was also trying to enter China illegally. Although it has not been mentioned what mobiles they were, they would have been folding models. A truly peculiar case, but one that is far from being a novelty for Chinese Customs; is that in recent years several events of this type have been detected.
The Chinese Customs detains the 'walking CPU'
Another particularity of this smuggling case is that Chinese Customs has baptized the offender as Walking CPU, or “walking CPU”. Without a doubt, a pinch of humor for a truly ridiculous case. But, as we have said before, this case is not the first of its kind, and it may not be the last either.
Last year, Chinese authorities arrested two drivers for trying tosmuggle more than 300 processors across the border between Hong Kong and Macau. One of them had at least 256 10th-generation Intel CPUs glued to his legs and chest; the other had 52 processors hidden between the seats of his vehicle.
And while there is likely to be a correlation between a global shortage of chips and an increase in the smuggling of computer components, there has also been a particular interest in other technological devices. Thus, for example, there have already been several cases of people who have tried to deceive (without luck) Chinese Customs to enter with undeclared iPhones.
In January 2015, a man was arrested for having 94 Apple smartphone units taped to his body. A couple of months later, another person was captured in a similar situation but with 146 cell phones from the block. In 2017, meanwhile, a woman tried to smuggle 102 iPhones into China, but she too failed in her attempt.
But going back to the case of the man arrested for trying to enter the Asian giant with 160 Intel CPUs attached to his body, his fate is unknown. From the Chinese Customs they have only mentioned that the case would be processed in accordance with the relevant legislation.
For now, the authorities have left a warning to try to dissuade new smuggling attempts. “For those who evade customs surveillance by personal concealment of articles, which constitutes contraband, customs will investigate legal responsibility according to law,” they indicated.
