Under the command of the General Administration of Customs, Chengdu and Shenzhen Customs have captured 11 people smuggling 2,834 tons of charcoal into overseas markets.

The charcoal was illegally exported to Japan and South Korea where charcoal is often used in the smoke-free barbecues restaurants. The smuggling of charcoal can earn high profits. But the production of charcoal highly damages forests and causes significant pollution. Five to 10 tons of natural timber is consumed to produce just a ton of charcoal. According to the law, those who smuggle more than 10 tons of charcoal will be subject to criminal liability.