With the sound of an auctioneer's hammer, a luxurious bulletproof
Mercedes Benz once owned by China's most notorious smuggler was
sold for 1.25 million yuan (US$150,000).
No one has thus far identified successful bidder No. 512, who
suddenly became the center of attention on Sunday. In response to
reporters' questions as he was escorted under police guard from the
auction site, he would say only, "It is a good brand and worth the
price." He is believed to have spoken with a south China
accent.
The armored Benz that once belonged to Lai Changxing is one of
18 cars confiscated by anti-smuggling authorities that were
auctioned yesterday, the last day of a 19-day exhibition at the
Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution in Beijing.
Lai is believed to be the mastermind of a smuggling ring that
handled some US$10 billion worth of goods in collaboration with
corrupt officials. It was the biggest smuggling operation uncovered
in China since 1949. Lai, who is fighting extradition, remains on
the run in Canada at present.
Authorities put Lai's car on the auction block after it failed
to sell at an auction for 4.5 million yuan (US$544,000) two years
ago in Xiamen, east China's Fujian
Province.
Sunday's bidding started at 1.06 million yuan (US$128,000), less
than one-tenth the price Lai reportedly paid when he bought the
car: HK$12 million (US$1.5 million).
Cao Zhichun, 36, who traveled from east China's Anhui
Province to bid on the black Benz, said he was a bit
disappointed about failing to win the car.
"The ideal price for us would have been around 1.2 million yuan
(US$145,000)," he said, adding that the vehicle, manufactured in
Germany in 1997, was too old to warrant a higher price. He said he
came to purchase the car for his boss in Taiwan.
Cao was among the few whose target was the big Benz. The
majority of the 300-odd bidders mainly focused on the Nissan cars
up for bid.
Four of the 18 cars cannot be driven in major cities like
Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, since they fail to meet the
necessary environmental standards.
However, that was not an obstacle for the bidders who came from
other parts of the country, including Sichuan
and Henan
provinces.
Sixteen of the?18 cars auctioned found new owners
yesterday.
Zhang Guangzhi, a senior official with the General
Administration of Customs, said the auction was an important part
of the just-concluded exhibition on achievements in the fight
against smuggling.
The exhibition was the largest of its kind in China to date.
From November 11 through 26, more than 210,000 people visited, with
the highest number on a single day reaching 15,000. Goods on
display include confiscated cars, drugs, animal pelts and pirated
compact discs.
"It is very shocking to see the confiscated goods and the
smugglers deserve severe punishment," said Du Hongwei, an exhibit
visitor.
(China Daily November 29, 2004)
