Gang members sentenced for smuggling

A total of 17 gang members from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan were convicted of smuggling and sentenced to jail ranging from one year to life, according to a verdict handed down by the Intermediate People's Court in Ningde city of Fujian province on Dec 3.

The main suspect operating the smuggling ring was a Taiwan resident surnamed Lei. He was charged with smuggling ordinary goods, and was given life imprisonment, with all his property confiscated, according to the court verdict. 

The court said the smuggled goods included electronic goods and cosmetics from Taiwan, and the amount of money involved reached 308 million yuan ($49.4 million) with tax envision of 41.2 million yuan.