Nuctech

In late 2006, the company won a contract to install advanced scanners at all 147 of China's airports to detect potentially dangerous liquids.[1]

The Philippine government bought 30 units of mobile X-ray equipment through a loan agreement with the Chinese government for a total value of P7.953 billion. Ten years later, it was reported that the Philippine Commission on Audit found that the contract had been exorbitantly overpriced. A quotation from another supplier showed that an X-ray machine with vastly superior performance only cost P124.6 million each, for a total of P3.738 billion for thirty units, P4.215 billion less than Nuctech's alleged inferior product. State auditors clarified that the price inquiry was made despite the difficulty in providing an accurate unit price and full specifications of Nuctech's machines. The COA also found that the maintenance cost of the X-ray machines from Nuctech was also more expensive by P3.264 million compared to other suppliers. The COA asked the Bureau of Customs to review the original contract and evaluate the deal.[5]

On July 21, 2009 Nuctech representative Yang Fan (杨帆) and two Namibians, Teckla Lameck and Jerobeam Mokaxwa, were arrested after Namibia’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) discovered that a US$12.8 million down payment on 13 scanners had been diverted to a firm called Teko Trading owned by the two Namibians.[2] Namibia prosecutors accuse them of joining in a bribery scheme that secured a $55.3 million contract in May 2008 to install Nuctech scanners at customs inspection points across Namibia.[2] Other sources report the contract to be worth $69 million.[6]

Netizens in China were blocked from accessing stories about the son of Hu Jintao in the wake of the scandal. Leading Chinese web portals, Sina and NetEase, could not be opened for several hours after they posted reports about the company linked to Hu Haifeng.[6] The report related to Hu Haifeng had been deleted from both web sites when their technology sections came back online.[7] An industry insider who declined to give his name said that both Sina and Netease were likely to face official sanctions.[7] Neither company confirmed that the sites had been blocked by the authorities or that their blockage was linked to any content. A customer service executive at Sina.com said the site had experienced technical problems.[7]

General Martin Shalli was a veteran fighter for Namibian independence, who joined SWAPO in 1974, having undergone training in the former Soviet Union.[6] After the corruption case, he was suspended by Namibian president Hifikepunye Pohamba for allegedly having millions of Namibian dollars transferred to him through Nuctech.[8] No details were given on the probe, but the Namibian daily reported possible links between Shalli and a Chinese company that supplies the Namibia Defence Force.[8]

On December 1, 2015 Côte d'Ivoire acquired two mobile X-ray scanners to boost the efficiency of its customs services. A first for the country, intended to fight against fraud and illegal products, and to optimize the mobilization of its internal resources.[9]

On July 29, 2016 over 250 Nuctech security scanners have been installed for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The scanners were intended to be responsible for 90 percent of security checks at the Rio Games.[10]

On October 17, 2018 Nuctech provided full body scanners, similar to what passengers go through at airport security, to a jail at the entrance for inmates who have permission to leave the jail for work, job training or medical appointments in Dane County, Wisconsin. [11]

On September 11, 2018 Nuctech was the security equipment supplier at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia. [12]

On October 31, 2018 Nuctech provided the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires with nearly 300 sets of security inspection equipment, including baggage inspection systems, handheld detectors and other devices. [13]