With the sound of an auctioneer's hammer, a luxurious bulletproof Mercedes Benz once owned by China's most notorious smuggler was sold for 1.25 million yuan (US$150,000).

No one has thus far identified successful bidder No. 512, who suddenly became the center of attention on Sunday. In response to reporters' questions as he was escorted under police guard from the auction site, he would say only, "It is a good brand and worth the price." He is believed to have spoken with a south China accent.

The armored Benz that once belonged to Lai Changxing is one of 18 cars confiscated by anti-smuggling authorities that were auctioned yesterday, the last day of a 19-day exhibition at the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution in Beijing.

Lai is believed to be the mastermind of a smuggling ring that handled some US$10 billion worth of goods in collaboration with corrupt officials. It was the biggest smuggling operation uncovered in China since 1949. Lai, who is fighting extradition, remains on the run in Canada at present.

Authorities put Lai's car on the auction block after it failed to sell at an auction for 4.5 million yuan (US$544,000) two years ago in Xiamen, east China's Fujian Province.

Sunday's bidding started at 1.06 million yuan (US$128,000), less than one-tenth the price Lai reportedly paid when he bought the car: HK$12 million (US$1.5 million).

Cao Zhichun, 36, who traveled from east China's Anhui Province to bid on the black Benz, said he was a bit disappointed about failing to win the car.

"The ideal price for us would have been around 1.2 million yuan (US$145,000)," he said, adding that the vehicle, manufactured in Germany in 1997, was too old to warrant a higher price. He said he came to purchase the car for his boss in Taiwan.

Cao was among the few whose target was the big Benz. The majority of the 300-odd bidders mainly focused on the Nissan cars up for bid.

Four of the 18 cars cannot be driven in major cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, since they fail to meet the necessary environmental standards.

However, that was not an obstacle for the bidders who came from other parts of the country, including Sichuan and Henan provinces.

Sixteen of the 18 cars auctioned found new owners yesterday.

Zhang Guangzhi, a senior official with the General Administration of Customs, said the auction was an important part of the just-concluded exhibition on achievements in the fight against smuggling.

The exhibition was the largest of its kind in China to date. From November 11 through 26, more than 210,000 people visited, with the highest number on a single day reaching 15,000. Goods on display include confiscated cars, drugs, animal pelts and pirated compact discs.

"It is very shocking to see the confiscated goods and the smugglers deserve severe punishment," said Du Hongwei, an exhibit visitor.

(China Daily November 29, 2004)