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iPhone 6 smugglers abandon 130 in Hong Kong

Police say iPhone 6 smugglers were pretending to have a barbecue on a Hong Kong dock, but were actually concealing more than 130 smartphones.

By Ben Hooper
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HONG KONG, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- Authorities in Hong Kong said smugglers abandoned more than 130 iPhone 6 units on a dock and fled in a speedboat when police interrupted their arrival.

Investigators confirmed police and customs officials arrived at Hong Kong's Sai Kung dock Saturday night and interrupted smugglers unloading more than $385,000 worth of iPhone 6 units and computer hardware.

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The smugglers abandoned their goods, which included more than 130 iPhones, and fled in their speedboat, police said. The smugglers had attempted to hide their operation by pretending to have a barbecue, police said.

Benson Lee Tak-shun, acting head of the Customs and Excise Department's marine enforcement unit, said authorities are expecting a spike in smuggling amid the falling resale value of the iPhone 6 in Hong Kong.

"Amid rumors that this new smartphone resale value is going down, we believe there will be a rush among smugglers ... to sell," he told the South China Morning Post.

"Because this new model of smartphone is not being sold on the mainland market yet, demand is extremely strong," Lee said.

The iPhone 6 was released in several countries Friday, but has yet to be released in China. Analysts said the smartphones may not arrive in China until next year.

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