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Don't carry things for strangers across borders, and don't receive packages of unknown origin

  • Top value
  • Evidence B
  • Keeps you free
  • Free
  • Takes minutes
  • No willpower

In plain words

The advice from the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (外交部领事司) to citizens traveling abroad is: don't carry luggage or items for other people, especially contraband or things you don't know about. If drugs or smuggled goods are actually found in the luggage, "I didn't know what was inside" is something you have to prove yourself. Receiving packages for others within China is the same, especially when you are asked to pay first and be refunded later.

Cost

Free. Just say no.

What you get

The Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises citizens going abroad to "be sure to avoid carrying luggage or items for others, especially contraband or items you don't know about." The purpose is to avoid carrying contraband for someone without knowing it and so taking on legal liability. When drugs or smuggled goods are found in luggage, "I didn't know what was inside" is something you have to prove yourself

Notes

The official notice pages of the General Administration of Customs (海关总署) and the Ministry of Public Security on this would not open, so this item cites only the Consular Department's page. The original also gives only a principle and no legal provision, so it is graded B. Receiving packages for others within China is the same, especially when you are asked to pay first and be refunded later.

Evidence grade
B : Supported by research but without a precise number, or based on small or single studies.
Sources
  1. 外交部领事司 (2023). 对准备出国的中国公民有哪些建议. https://cs.mfa.gov.cn/gyls/lscs/201106/t20110615_876383.shtml

Mentioned in

Translated from the Chinese original. Original book, section 8, tip 29. This section describes legal rules, mostly mainland China’s. It is general information, not legal advice; for your own case, talk to a lawyer. Content may be out of date and rules differ by place. When you actually deal with an agency, a doctor or a court, follow what local officials, doctors and lawyers tell you. Disclaimer