Seized Discarded Batteries (with photo)

Officers of Xiamen Customs District had seized about 2000 discarded batteries from a box brought in by a passenger on 10 May when exercising Customs control over an inward flight (CZ378, Manila to Xiamen). The passenger claimed that one of his friends had asked him to take the box back to China and he had no idea what the discarded batteries are for. The batteries with a weight of 19.5 kilograms were directly returned back.

Customs officers said that the discarded batteries were usually smuggled into the country for the recovery of precious metals during which great dangers may be posed to the environment and human health due to the use of the below standard refining equipment. China prohibits the entry of the used battery scrap and discarded batteries.