Chinese Ministry of State Security

China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) on Sunday revealed three cases where couriers identified prohibited items posing risks to state security, including overseas cult organizations’ illegal propaganda materials, drug-making materials and plant seedlings and seeds destined for overseas, as couriers flagged suspicious packages, individuals and behaviors, contributing to state security.

These cases show a result of the deepening of state security education and the public’s rising awareness of safeguarding state security, the MSS said.

According to the MSS, a courier employee alerted state security authorities to dubious wording on a parcel’s address label. An investigation revealed that the package contained illegal propaganda materials sent by overseas cult organizations to the Chinese mainland.

With the strong cooperation of the courier company, more than 100 items of illegal propaganda materials from overseas cult organizations were intercepted. The state security authority awarded the informant in accordance with the laws.

In another case, a deliveryman reported to the state security department that a package sent from a foreign country was repeatedly rejected by a visibly distressed recipient, raising the courier’s suspicion.

Investigations showed that the package contained China’s controlled Category II psychotropic drugs.

The tip provided crucial information for the state security authorities and relevant departments to uncover a case involving the online purchase of drug-making materials from overseas. The state security authorities also awarded the informant in accordance with the laws.

In the third case that the MSS revealed, a courier company discovered during security screening that a package destined for overseas contained undeclared plant seedlings and seeds. The courier company promptly notified state security authorities.

Upon verification, it was confirmed that the plant seedlings and seeds in the package were rare and unique species native to China, which are classified as export-controlled items.

The reported clue provided significant assistance to the state security authorities in clarifying the situation and eliminating potential risks. The authorities awarded the informant in accordance with the law.

The MSS emphasized that ensuring delivery security requires collective responsibility of all employees in the courier industry, courier companies and regulatory authorities. According to China’s Postal Law, interim regulations on express delivery and the regulations on the management of prohibited items in delivery services, all courier companies and personnel must rigorously monitor prohibited items and enforce safety protocols.

During the processes of receiving, sorting, transporting and delivering packages, if courier employees detect items potentially endangering state security, suspicious senders or recipients, or suspicious sending and receiving behaviors, they should report immediately to the state security authorities or relevant departments, and actively cooperate with authorities in their investigations.

Global Times