It’s no surprise that some countries with stringent laws or tariffs on certain goods are prone to smuggling, as individuals seek to avoid paying duties. The gaming industry is no exception, and a recent incident has shed light on the lengths to which some people will go to get their hands on coveted games. In a bizarre case, customs officials at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, which falls under the Guangdong Provincial Customs, have seized a substantial haul of smuggled game discs.
The seizure, which took place at the customs checkpoint, involved a woman wearing a purple sweater who caught the attention of officials due to her suspicious behavior. Upon searching her, they found an astonishing 156 discs of the popular game Monster Hunter: Wilds for the PS5 concealed on her body. The discs were carefully wrapped in plastic film and taped to various parts of her body, including her chest, waist, stomach, thighs, and other areas. This clever yet illicit attempt to smuggle the games into the country highlights the strong demand for the title, possibly exacerbated by shortages in the market.
The Monster Hunter: Wilds game has been a phenomenal success, selling 8 million copies in just three days, which led to a shortage of physical copies. While players can purchase and download games online, many fans still prefer to collect physical discs, driving the demand for smuggled copies. The game is currently available on PS5, Series X/S, and PC, but it seems some enthusiasts are willing to go to great lengths to get their hands on a physical copy.
The seizure of these smuggled game discs serves as a reminder of the cat-and-mouse game between customs officials and smugglers. As the gaming industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how manufacturers and authorities adapt to meet the demands of fans while preventing such illegal activities.
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