Behind the 1.78 million people entering and leaving Shenzhen Port during the National Day holiday: What legal responsibilities may be triggered by exceeding the limit of carrying items and violating customs clearance regulations

The legal landscape behind 1.78 million person times of customs clearance

On October 8, 2026, the Shenzhen Exit Entry Border Inspection Station released data: from October 1 to 7, the Huanggang Border Inspection Station inspected over 1.78 million people entering and exiting through Huanggang and Futian ports, with approximately 890000 people entering and leaving the country. Among them, there were over 1.37 million people at Futian Port and over 410000 people at Huanggang Port. Mainland residents traveling to Hong Kong and Macau and Hong Kong and Macau residents coming to Shenzhen for consumption are heating up simultaneously, and the life in the two cities of Shenzhen and Hong Kong has shifted from a concept to a daily routine.

A densely populated port is not just a travel route, but also a legal boundary. The border inspection personnel are responsible for the entry and exit order, while the customs are responsible for the supervision of goods, with each system managing one section. Most people are concerned about how long to queue and whether there are enough visas, but as lawyers, what we are more concerned about is: how many people out of 1.78 million know if their belongings exceed the limit? How many people know that bringing something for a friend may be illegal? There are not uncommon cases of customs violations being filed during holidays, and the problem often lies in 'not knowing if this is illegal'.

Carrying limit and declaration obligation: Everything is fine if it's not for personal use

According to Article 46 of the Customs Law of the People's Republic of China, personal luggage and items carried in or out of the country, as well as items mailed in or out of the country, shall be limited to personal use, reasonable quantities, and subject to customs supervision. The core standard here is' self use and reasonable quantity ', but many passengers understand it as' I can use it myself without any problem', which is a typical misconception.

The General Administration of Customs has set a tax-free limit for personal use imported goods obtained from overseas by resident passengers entering the country. Any excess must be declared and postal tax paid proactively. In practice, gold jewelry, watches, cosmetics, and electronic products are the focus of seizures. A passenger purchased two luxury watches in Hong Kong, one for personal use and the other for luggage, and was found to have exceeded the reasonable quantity for personal use, resulting in additional taxes and fines.

What is even more alarming is' helping people bring things'. If the entrusted items belong to goods prohibited or restricted by the state from entering or leaving the country, even if the parties claim to be unaware, they may still face investigation. The Regulations on the Implementation of Customs Administrative Penalties stipulate a clear penalty gradient for acts such as false declaration, concealment, and disguise. In many cases that lawyers encounter in practice, the concept of "reasonable quantity" is not heard of by the parties until they are investigated.

The three legal consequences of customs violations: administrative, criminal, and credit

Violation of customs clearance regulations is not a single consequence, but a hierarchical one. The first layer is administrative responsibility. Carrying oversized items without declaration, customs may impose fines and confiscate the items; For minor cases, release will be made after paying the taxes. The second layer is criminal responsibility. According to Article 153 of the Criminal Law, smuggling ordinary goods or items and evading the payable tax amount up to the threshold constitutes the crime of smuggling ordinary goods or items. Individuals who evade the payable tax of more than 100000 yuan may be held criminally responsible. In cases where purchasing agents and parallel traders were investigated, many people thought it was just a "fine", but ultimately faced criminal charges.

The third layer is credit and subsequent impact. Records of administrative penalties imposed by customs may affect the frequency of individual inspections during the entry and exit process, and those with serious circumstances may be included in relevant credit management lists. For people living and working in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, customs clearance records are not insignificant.

It should be distinguished that border inspection focuses on entry and exit documents and personnel identity, while customs inspection focuses on items and goods. The legal basis for the two is different, but during joint inspections at ports during holidays, passengers often face two stages at the same time, which can easily lead to confusion.

Compliance blind spots between enterprises and cross-border practitioners

Among the 1.78 million people, a considerable proportion are business contacts and cross-border employment personnel. Enterprises arrange for employees to frequently travel between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, and if it involves carrying samples, equipment, or documents, they are also subject to customs supervision. Some companies have a habit of allowing employees to "bring them along" without customs clearance arrangements, which is legally considered as carrying goods in and out of the country without declaration, and the risk is shared by the company and employees.

From the perspective of legal practice, cross-border enterprises should establish a list of customs clearance items and a declaration process, clarifying which items must go through customs clearance procedures and which can be carried with them. For enterprises under investigation for customs violations, it is advisable to entrust lawyers to intervene as early as possible to seek lenient treatment during the administrative stage and avoid entering criminal proceedings. Guangdong Zhiming Law Firm has been handling customs administrative penalties, smuggling crime defense, and cross-border compliance affairs in Shenzhen for a long time. The golden processing period for such cases is often in the first few days after seizure.

Three Reminders from Lawyers to Ordinary People for Customs Clearance during Holidays

Firstly, check the tax-free limit before departure, and if it exceeds the limit, take the initiative to apply through the declaration channel. Do not take any chances. Secondly, do not carry items for unfamiliar people, especially items with sealed packaging and unclear sources. Thirdly, once stopped for investigation by customs or border inspection, truthfully state the situation, do not guess or sign documents that you cannot understand, and contact a lawyer in a timely manner.

The flow of people at the port can be smoothly welcomed and escorted, but the legal boundaries will not be relaxed due to holidays. 1.78 million person times is a lively number, and for every person who clears the level, understanding the rules and keeping the bottom line are the prerequisites for making the journey truly smooth.