The Chinese Government seized 4,112 counterfeit military vehicles and 6,373 fake car number plates since July 2006 in its campaign to crack down on the illicit trade.

From the official government news agency Xinhua:

Ninety-five criminal groups and illegal manufacturing workshops involving over 5,000 people have been seized for stealing and counterfeiting military number plates since the campaign started in July, 2006, according to anonymous sources attending a PLA conference on Thursday.

In China, cars with military plates, which differ from ordinary vehicle plates in color and numbers, are legally entitled to privileges, including exemption from road tolls and parking fees.

Police officers are also reluctant to pull over drivers of military vehicles even if the drivers are breaking the law.

The privileges have led to a rash of fake military plates and vehicles.

The article stated that China loses an estimated $5 million in toll fees from those using fake military vehicles.

China’s Illicit Market is listed at $79.5 billion.

[Passport]