The Great Chinese iPad Zipline Smuggling Ring

The Great Chinese iPad Zipline Smuggling Ring


You’ve got to admire the audacity of the Chinese hucksters who were illegally importing iPads and iPhones across the border from Hong Kong, by way of a rope-and-pulley system, triggered by a crossbow and desire to make some cash.

The Chinese news report of the sting operation, above, shows the flying fox-style cable that crossed the border from northern Hong Kong to Shenzhen, where they were sold on for a profit to take advantage of the lower taxes. Police only found out about the smuggling after spying the 300meter-long line, which connected a village house to a 21st floor of a city high-rise in Shenzhen some two minutes’ sail through the air-away.

Six smugglers have since been arrested, and over $US46,000 worth of iPads and iPhones have been captured. However illegal the zipwire may’ve been, I think it’s an ingenious way to send goods between Apple stores quickly — perhaps Jobs and co can look into a similar system for cities with more than one branch? [DailySS and YCWB via MicGadget]


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