According to a report by China National Radio on July 11, 2017, a Hong Kong woman was caught smuggling 102 iPhones into China through the Luohu Customs by strapping all of the goods onto her body.

The incident occurred in Shenzhen on June 30, 2017.

Adding to the list of smuggled accessories were 15 Tissot watches.

Altogether 117 items amounting to about 20kg were strapped all over her upper body over some pieces of clothing.

According to the customs police, she used rolls of chest-binders and elastic wraps to strap numerous layers of iPhones onto herself, with each roll taking up at least four layers of iPhones.

Upon looking at her shapely body, one of the customs officers "felt that there was something peculiar about this woman". He then explained during an interview with the media:

"She's wearing a little too much for the warm weather these days. She doesn't look like she's sick too. I also noticed that her upper body was much more swollen than her lower body, and it's obvious that her body was disproportionate."

And that's when her disproportionate look foiled her plans.

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And even if she managed to fool customs officers, she would have immediately been caught once she went through a metal detector.

The woman's attempt is not a first of its kind. But because of the high number of items she has attempted to smuggle, this case was reported as one of the most serious cases Shenzhen has ever encountered.

Though the purpose of her smuggling is not known, it is speculated that she was making an attempt at "parallel trading".

"Parallel trading" is an ongoing phenomenon that frequently occurs between traders travelling between Hong Kong and the mainland and vice versa.

Taking advantage of the mutiple-entry visa policy between Hong Kong and the mainland, and also the absence of taxes and duties on many items in Hong Kong, these traders will seize any opportunity possible to transport expensive items such as iPhones and branded goods across the border to sell them at an attractive price and high profit.

Custom officers have a tough job as up to a million travellers move to and fro Hong Kong and the mainland daily.

The woman was detained at the Luohu customs in Shenzhen for further investigations.

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Top image composite image via China National Radio @ Weibo