Woman caught smuggling blood samples into Hong Kong for baby gender tests

A woman was caught smuggling dozens of blood samples into Hong Kong from Chinese mainland to conduct gender tests for pregnant women, Knews reported on Friday.

Video shows authorities chasing the woman down after she attempted to run from the customs checkpoint in Shenzhen on Saturday.

Prenatal tests that reveal a baby’s sex are illegal in mainland to discourage abortions due to the cultural preference for boys that still prevails in parts of the country.

Customs agents pulled the woman out of line at Shatoujiao customs during a routine check and asked to check her bag.

“While we were asking her questions, she seemed anxious and was speaking erratically,” a customs officer said.

The woman appears in a rush to leave, which further roused officers’ suspicions.

A closer inspection revealed what appeared to be something hidden in her pockets and around her waist.

Realizing she had been caught, the woman grabbed her bag and ran for the door.

She was found in possession of 38 vials.

“We found test tubes with blood samples in her coat pockets and strapped around her waist,” the customs officer said.

The woman later said they came from pregnant women seeking to determine the sex of their children through tests done in Hong Kong.

She charged 380 yuan ($57) to smuggle each tube.