(Yicai Global) Nov. 20 -- China has sentenced 27 members of a criminal gang in northeastern Liaoning province for smuggling 112 kilograms of gold worth USD4.3 million to Japan, state-backed Xinhua News Agency reported.

The smugglers colluded with staff members at Xiantao airport in provincial capital Shenyang, sending the gold to Japan through tour guides, the investigation found. The airport staff and tour guides involved received benefits from the gang.

Two of the gang violated customs regulations and organized others to illegally bring vast amounts of the commodity out of China, while the other 25 defendants were found to have illegally carried or arranged others to illegally carry gold out of China. Sentencing ranged from one-year to 11 years.

Editor:  William Clegg