Don’t carry items for strangers when traveling, and don’t accept packages of unknown origin

China's consular authorities advise travelers not to carry luggage or goods for others, especially prohibited items or items whose contents they do not understand. Countries prohibit drugs at the border; the person carrying the luggage must answer questions and make the required declarations. Be cautious with unknown domestic parcels too, particularly requests to pay upfront for a promised refund.

No cost at all. Simply say no.

The consular guidance tells outbound Chinese travelers to avoid carrying other people's luggage or items, especially prohibited or unfamiliar goods. It states that countries prohibit drugs and protected animal or plant products, and requires truthful declarations of restricted goods and cash and truthful answers to customs and immigration staff. You cannot accurately declare contents you do not know. In China, a 2025 Hubei postal-regulator warning lists high-value parcel collection among delivery-related fraud schemes and identifies requests to advance money for parcel-related task or order schemes as scams.

The original author could not access the relevant customs and police warning pages, so the border-travel discussion cites the consular page. It supplies principles rather than statutory provisions, hence grade B. Carrying medicine abroad for others also needs care: see section 21, item 12.

外交部领事司 (2026). 对准备出国的中国公民有哪些建议？（中国领事服务网，2026 年 7 月 13 日）. https://cs.mfa.gov.cn/zggmcgx/lsbhyxz/cjwd_149483/202607/t20260713_11981016.html；湖北省邮政管理局 (2025). 关于防范利用寄递渠道实施诈骗的风险提示（2025 年 3 月 25 日）. https://hb.spb.gov.cn/hubsyzglj/c100057/c100058/202503/17998076d1f74959b1d4378ddb9d3564.shtml