PANews reported on May 21 that, according to Zhejiang Daily, the Ningbo Customs Anti-Smuggling Bureau recently cracked down on several criminal gangs smuggling virtual currency "mining machines" after in-depth investigation and meticulous operation, effectively cutting off an illegal industrial chain. Previously, during a routine inspection of an inbound express shipment declared as "industrial blocking devices," Ningbo Customs discovered that the actual goods did not match the declaration; they were actually virtual currency "mining machines." Customs officers quickly transferred this lead to the anti-smuggling department. Upon receiving the report, the Ningbo Customs Anti-Smuggling Bureau immediately formed a special task force, gradually clarifying the organizational structure and operational model of the criminal network through data analysis and clue investigation. When the time was right, they decisively launched a simultaneous operation in Dongguan and Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, successfully dismantling several smuggling gangs. Investigation revealed that over 400 illegally imported "mining machines" of brands such as Antminer L9 and Glacier KS3 were seized in this series of cases.

An investigation revealed that a smuggling ring led by Liao Moumou, seeking illegal profits, purchased "mining machines" from overseas suppliers, disassembled the machines, and smuggled them into China via international express mail through ports in Ningbo and Guangzhou after falsely declaring them as goods. Once in the country, the ring reassembled the machines and either sold them domestically or transported them to clandestine "mining farms" in Xinjiang and Hunan for illegal cryptocurrency mining activities. They also used USDT and other cryptocurrencies for cross-border payments to evade financial oversight.