Customs officers in Shenzhen have uncovered an unusual drug smuggling attempt after allegedly discovering cannabis concealed inside a wad of chewed chewing gum hidden beneath a traveller’s shoe.
The incident took place at Luohu Port, where customs officers became suspicious after noticing a male traveller behaving nervously while entering the mainland through the immigration checkpoint. According to Chinese authorities, the man failed to declare any prohibited items and was taken aside for a more detailed inspection.
During the search, officers reportedly noticed the man’s unusual walking posture and instructed him to remove his shoes. Hidden beneath the sole of one shoe, they allegedly found a crumpled chewing gum wrapper containing a piece of heavily chewed gum.
What initially appeared to be discarded chewing gum turned out to conceal something far more serious. After examining the gum more closely, officers allegedly discovered a small sealed plastic packet embedded inside it containing a green leafy substance suspected to be cannabis.
On-site testing reportedly produced a positive result for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive compound found in cannabis. A subsequent forensic analysis confirmed that the substance was cannabis weighing approximately 2.31 grams, according to Chinese authorities.
The suspect was arrested at the scene, and the case has since been handed over to customs anti-smuggling investigators for criminal investigation.
The unusual concealment method quickly sparked reactions online, with many social media users expressing disbelief over the bizarre attempt to hide drugs inside used chewing gum. Others praised customs officers for their thorough inspection despite the unpleasant discovery.
Chinese customs authorities reminded the public that cannabis remains a strictly prohibited narcotic under Chinese law. They warned that smuggling, transporting, selling or possessing illegal drugs can result in criminal prosecution regardless of the quantity involved and urged travellers not to violate the country’s anti-drug laws.
