Thousands Worth of Pokemon Cards Confiscated by Chinese Airport Authorities

Customs authorities in China have intercepted a large haul of Pokemon Terastal Festival ex boxes from four travelers, with an estimated total value reaching into the thousands of dollars.

The Terastal Festival ex is a special set from the Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG) that was originally released in Japan on December 6, 2024. This set will soon be available in the West as part of the highly anticipated Prismatic Evolutions expansion, set to launch on January 17, 2025.

Anticipation for the Prismatic Evolutions release has been exceptionally high, leading to a complete sell-out of pre-orders on The Pokemon Center website. Retailers like TCGPlayer have seen pre-release boxes priced at an astonishing $146 for the Elite Trainer Box. This immense demand underscores the popularity of this particular set.

In response to the high demand and the threat of scalping, U.S. retailers such as Target have implemented special measures to prevent scalpers from taking advantage of the situation. Some retailers even opted not to sell the cards at all. The Prismatic Evolutions set features reprints of popular rare cards, stunning alternate art, and the coveted Eeveelution Stellar cards, contributing to its popularity among collectors and players alike.

Details of the Seizure at Shenyang Taoxian Airport

The lucrative nature of the Prismatic Evolutions has made it a target for both collectors seeking rare reprints and scalpers hoping to offer them for resale.

According to a translated report from Sina Finance, customs officers at Shenyang Taoxian Airport recently seized 593 boxes of the Prismatic Evolutions from four passengers arriving in China.

Pokemon Cards Chinese customs officers — Sina

The aforementioned passengers reportedly entered through the “no declaration channel”in an attempt to bypass customs duties related to their imported merchandise. However, their concealment efforts were thwarted after customs officials noticed that their luggage appeared “abnormal,” prompting an inspection.

Upon inspection, officers discovered a staggering total of 5,930 cards, an impressive amount considering each Prismatic Evolutions box has a median price of $109. With 593 boxes, this seizure suggests a potential value of around $64,000.

As for the fate of the seized cards, it remains uncertain. However, the four individuals involved will undoubtedly face challenges in their attempts to profit from these rare collectibles.

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