Published : 2025-01-05
On January 5, 1999, the anti-smuggling department of China Customs was officially established in Beijing.
After the Reform and Opening-up started, although the national economy of China became more active, and industrial and agricultural production and commodity circulation developed, smuggling activities became increasingly rampant due to the lagging behind of economic legislation and management.
Based on the severe smuggling situation, the National Anti-Smuggling Work Conference held in July 1998 made three major decisions: to reform the anti-smuggling system, to establish anti-smuggling police in customs, and to prohibit any authorities from engaging in commercial enterprises.
Anti-smuggling police is the first specialised criminal law enforcement team in China to combat smuggling crimes.
On the same day, the Anti-Smuggling Crime Investigation Bureau of the General Administration of Customs was also established.
As a new type of police under the Ministry of Public Security, the anti-smuggling police has the power to enforce criminal law, in order to address the long-standing issue of insufficient criminal enforcement against smuggling crimes.
According to the deployment, the anti-smuggling police force is officially staffed with 10,000 personnel, with 6,000 personnel in place at the first batch of established units.