Shenzhen’s cultural and anti-smuggling authorities signed an agreement on Thursday to deepen law enforcement collaboration in the field of cultural relics and works of art.

Under the agreement — inked between Shenzhen Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports, and the Anti-Smuggling Bureau of Shenzhen Customs — the two sides will establish a regular liaison mechanism and carry out all-round cooperation in such areas as the identification of cultural relics related to smuggling cases, data sharing, joint law enforcement and legal awareness campaigns.

The collaboration coincided with the opening of a special exhibition of modern Chinese ink painting and calligraphy treasures confiscated by the anti-smuggling bureau at Shenzhen Art Museum on Thursday.

The exhibition — Treasures of Modern Chinese Ink Painting and Calligraphy Confiscated by Shenzhen Customs Anti-Smuggling Bureau — runs through Aug 9 and displays a collection of 28 pieces and sets of authentic modern Chinese works by more than 20 master artists, including Wu Changshuo, Zhao Zhiqian, Ren Yi, Ju Lian, Qi Baishi, Xu Beihong, Huang Binhong, Pu Ru, Lin Fengmian, Li Keran and Wu Guanzhong.

The cultural relics and works of art were confiscated from a cross-boundary vehicle at the Shenzhen Bay Port in February 2023, when customs officers seized 36 art pieces by renowned artists. The wrappings of the artworks displayed sales tags from Sotheby’s Hong Kong, China Guardian Hong Kong and Poly Auction Hong Kong.

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The artworks include iconic masterpieces such as Four Vertical Scrolls of Fruits by Qi Baishi, which sold for HK$2l.4 million ($2.72 million) at Sotheby’s Hong Kong Spring Auction 2014.

A suspect surnamed Lu — a long-time art trade practitioner who shuttled frequently between Shenzhen and Hong Kong — had smuggled the overseas auction-acquired artworks into the mainland either by concealing them in private cars or by making false declarations to arrange express shipments, personally or through his accomplices.

The case uncovered a total of 64 smuggled artworks worth over 80 million yuan ($11.75 million).

“These artworks boast high artistic value, and their touching stories of 'returning home' carry even greater significance,” said Zhu Jianjun, head of the Shenzhen Art Museum.

The exhibition is the first to feature paintings and calligraphy as cultural relics hosted by customs’ anti-smuggling departments nationwide, Zhu added.

As one of the world’s three major art auction hubs, Hong Kong hosts leading international auction houses including Sotheby's and Christie's, with its 2025 art auction turnover accounting for 14.5 percent of the world’s total.

Bordering Hong Kong, Shenzhen enjoys prime geographic advantages and a large trading market, rendering its ports high-risk routes for cultural relics and art smuggling.

Zhang Junqiang, director of the Anti-Smuggling Bureau of Shenzhen Customs, said the bureau has investigated 19 criminal cases involving the smuggling of cultural relics and works of art over the past five years, seizing a total of 1,172 such pieces.

Contact the writer at sally@chinadailyhk.com