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15 on trial over bogus cigarette export in S China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-09-02 23:05

GUANGZHOU: Fifteen people went on trial Wednesday in south China for their involvement in the export of a huge amount of bogus cigarettes to foreign countries.

They were accused of providing services of storage, transfers, booking cargo space and customs clearance for people who had been exporting the bogus cigarettes since 2005, the Intermediate People's Court in Dongguan, Guangdong Province heard.

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Huang Conglin and Ding Ping, two of the suspects, were involved in the transfer of bogus cigarettes worth 156 million yuan (US$22.8 million) between December 2005 and June 2008. The other 13 people were involved in exports worth between 598,500 yuan and 152 million yuan.

The bogus cigarettes were made in Yunxiao and Zhangpu counties in Fujian Province and sent to storehouses in Dongguan and Shenzhen cities in Guangdong, before they were moved on to Britain, Germany, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and other countries.

The suspects face charges of marketing fake commodities, a crime  carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The hearing is ongoing.