Fifty five bottles of fine wines heading to mainland China were seized in a cross-border car driving towards Zhuhai via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.
The wines confiscated included some of the world’s most sought-after wines including Bordeaux first growth Château Latour and top Burgundy wines such as Domaine Dujac, Domaine Leflaive and Domaine Bouchard Pere & Fils.
According to information published on May 31 by Gongbei Customs, on May 9, a vehicle with both Guangdong and Hong Kong registrations entered the Zhuhai roadway entry of the bridge. During a routine check, customs officers detected anomalies with the vehicle. A thorough inspection revealed 55 bottles of expensive wine concealed in the glove compartment, under the seats, and trunk.
Gongbei Customs is located in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, adjacent to Macau and linked to Hong Kong via the bridge.
Images published by Gongbei Customs displayed bottles from Bordeaux’s First Growth Château Latour, and several distinguished Burgundy producers including Château De La Tour, Domaine Bouchard Pere & Fils, Domaine Dujac, Domaine Leflaive, and Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé.
The price for Château Latour on Wine Searcher is listed at an average pre-tax value of RMB 5774. The exact classifications of the other Burgundy wines couldn’t be determined from the blurry images, but these wines typically reach prices well into the thousands, with pre-tax averages on Wine Searcher up to ten thousand RMB per bottle, and even the lesser-known labels valued at several hundred to thousands RMB.
According to the customs authorities, the total estimated market value of the wines seized amounted to RMB 191,000 (US$26,362), with an average price per bottle of RMB 3472.72, reflecting their high value.
By law, Hong Kong and Macau residents, as well as mainland residents returning from visiting these regions are allowed to bring two bottles (up to 1.5 liters each) of wines when entering mainland China. Frequent travelers within 15 days and those under 16 are prohibited from bringing in any tax-free alcohol.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenge faced by Chinese customs in controlling the smuggling of high-value wines, driven by significant tax disparities under China’s “one country, two systems” policy. While wine is duty-free in Hong Kong and Macau, in mainland China, French wine attracts a combined tax rate of 43.13%, including import duties, VAT, and consumption taxes. For example, a Bordeaux grand cru with a retail price of 740 euros (around 5809 RMB) incurs a total taxes of RMB 2505.42 when imported to the mainland China.
According to data released by Gongbei Customs, in 2023, more than 2.68 million passenger cars entered and exited through the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge port. Additionally, according to statistics from the Gongbei Border Inspection Station, during the first quarter of 2024, over 26 million people and more than 740,000 vehicles traveled between Zhuhai and Macao via the Gongbei Port.
Given the substantial tax differentials and the high volume of cross-border traffic, some individuals are driven to take risks and engage in smuggling high-value wines and major brands, taking advantage of the busy ports.
The customs authority has imposed sanctions on the driver of the vehicle for the smuggling violation, though the specifics of the punishment were not disclosed.
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