Shenzhen Customs officials confirmed on Sunday that more than 400 smuggled units of Apple's iPhone 7 have been confiscated during a joint operation with authorities in Hong Kong. The bust was made last Friday, the start of the three-day Mid-Autumn Festival holiday.

Chinese customs officials revealed that they intercepted over 50 attempts to smuggle the iPhone 7 into the country on Friday. Most of the offenders were found concealing the smartphone on their bodies by strapping them to their waist and ankles.

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Shenzhen Customs initially received a tip about 10 alleged smugglers, who were found carrying 44 iPhone 7 units at 4 p.m. on Friday. The tip reportedly came from customs officials in Hong Kong. Later, at around 7 p.m., seven more people were caught with 190 units of the iPhone 7, the South China Morning Post reported.

According to the customs officers, the offenders claim to have been paid between 200 yuan ($30) and 300 yuan ($45) for each trip. Each smuggler could conceal as many as 30 iPhones units, according to Global Times. The confiscated iPhone units have been valued at three million yuan ($445,709).

Customs officials say the smugglers would face either a 15 percent tariff fine or smuggling charges.

A person can take only one new smartphone for personal use across the Chinese border. An extra phone would be subjected to a 15 percent tax, and people carrying many units are considered smugglers.

The demand for Apple's latest iPhone in the Chinese market is high. The first batch of the iPhone 7 sold out soon after the company began accepting online orders on September 9.

Scalpers are taking advantage of the demand to sell units of the iPhone 7 outside the Apple stores in Beijing. However, their rates are way higher than the retail prices.

TagsiPhone 7, Smugglers, china, apple