On Aug. 21, Qingdao Customs announced that a group of smugglers responsible for bringing over 5,000 tons of seafood into China over the past two years had been apprehended. The total value involved in this case is 230 million yuan.

In a survey administered early this year, customs inspectors found that some upscale seafood was being sold for cheaper prices than declared, which stood out as unusual. Customs officer Song Zhening explained that a large quantity of scallops, king crabs and fish was imported by vans licensed in Southwest China's Guangxi.

"The seafood originated in Japan, Russia and the U.S., so why did it come in vans from Guangxi?" Song mused. "It was strange."

As the investigation got underway, a seafood import and export company in Shandong became a primary suspect. Manipulated behind the scenes by a man surnamed Wang, the corporation had branch companies in Shandong, Fujian, Liaoning and Guangxi provinces. There was also a branch in the U.S.

Inspector Li Fudong figured that, in order to avoid sanctions, Wang stayed in the U.S. year round. All of the business's contacts were handled by the U.S. branch. After receiving payments, domestic companies transferred the money abroad via underground money exchangers.

On June 24, Wang was captured by police in Penglai Airport. Meanwhile, customs officials stopped the other suspects in Shandong, Fujian, Guangxi and Liaoning.

Additionally, inspectors found that the seafood came into China via a detour in Vietnam, as the smugglers were trying to avoid duty and quarantines. Some of the seafood also came from Fukushima, Japan.

After the 2011 earthquake, Fukushima was polluted by nuclear radiation. Almost all countries therefore forbade the importation of seafood from Fukushima. Even local residents don't eat it. Thus, the price of upscale seafood from Fukushima dropped precipitously.

Li explained that the smugglers gathered the commodities in Hokkaido. They then transported the seafood to Fangchenggang city of Guangxi and Shandong province.