Skip to main content

Chinese iPhone smuggler caught with 94 iPhones strapped to his body

iphone-suit

One Chinese man seemingly couldn’t wait for an official Apple wearable, and tried to smuggle an amazing 94 iPhones from Hong Kong – where they are cheaper – into mainland China by wearing them inside his clothes.

Huffington Post reports that the man was pulled aside by customs officials as a result of his “weird walking posture, joint stiffness, muscle tension.”

We don’t know the mix of models involved, but the total value of the iPhones would likely exceed $50,000, making his saran-wrapped iPhone suit one of the most expensive suits in the world.

Black market iPhone 6 Plus prices had reached over $3000 during the period when they were not officially available in China. Apple’s more official retail outlets are growing rapidly in the country, with Tim Cook pledging to boost the number of Apple Stores in the country from 15 to 40 within two years.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Comments

  1. Zac Hall - 9 years ago

    Smuggler or new bendgate testing system?

  2. iSRS - 9 years ago

    It’s crazy how they are still in such demand for Mainland China. I live in NH and every time I go to our local mall first thing in the morning, 90%+ of the line for the Apple Store is Chinese of all ages, all buying 2 iPhones, with what appears to be Apple Store gift cards. They then meet in the center seating area, and one or two others come to them and they hand them over. They are not subtle about it, either. I guess from this side of the world, they aren’t doing anything illegal/wrong. But it is quite the operation.

    • dragonitedd - 9 years ago

      US iPhones are FDD compatible only, which does not support many Chinese carriers’ 4G network. How can iPhones without 4G LTE be usable?…

      • iamrot (@iamrot) - 9 years ago

        Verizon ones will work on all/any frequency as its cdma and GSM

      • mostling (@mostling) - 9 years ago

        Same way all other iphones up to iphone 5 are usable?

Author

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Ben Lovejoy

Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac. He’s known for his op-eds and diary pieces, exploring his experience of Apple products over time, for a more rounded review. He also writes fiction, with two technothriller novels, a couple of SF shorts and a rom-com!


Ben Lovejoy's favorite gear