RTX 5090: Two Cards Seized Alongside Cigarettes in Macau
By Indie Kings | October 24, 2026
Updated October 24, 2026: Two GeForce RTX 5090 cards turned up in Macau Customs seizures during a September crackdown, with the cards valued alongside cigarettes and AirPods in a $187K operation.
Image: Customs enforcement environment (verified image URL).
What was seized
Macau Customs reported two GeForce RTX 5090 cards among goods seized in 12 cases between September 11 and 17, 2026. The total value of seized goods reached about 1.51 million Macau patacas (~$187,000 USD). The list included roughly 126,000 cigarettes, 75,000 electronic cigarettes, 359 headphones, 47 kilograms of suspected silver granules, and two graphics cards.
Value and comparison
| Item (count) | Notes |
|---|---|
| 2x RTX 5090 graphics cards | 32 GB GDDR7, 512-bit bus (not 5090 D V2) |
| ~126,000 cigarettes | Seized in same operation |
| 75,000 electronic cigarettes | Also included |
| 359 headphones (AirPods type) | Included alongside cards |
| 47 kg suspected silver granules | Also in same cases |
RTX 5090 cards currently reach $7,000 to $10,000 at some retailers. A single card can exceed the price of many laptops, which explains why luxury hardware now appears in customs reports alongside tobacco.
Macau vs mainland China
Macau is a Special Administrative Region with its own customs territory. The standard RTX 5090 has 32GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus. Mainland China officially receives the RTX 5090 D V2, which has 24GB of GDDR7 on a 384-bit bus. The wider memory bus makes the standard card more valuable for AI workloads and gaming, giving it a premium import value.
FAQ
How many cards were seized?
Two GeForce RTX 5090 units.
When was the operation?
September 11 to 17, 2026, reported September 26.
What was the total value seized?
About 1.51 million Macau patacas (~$187,000 USD).
Why are GPUs being smuggled?
The standard 5090 is more powerful (32GB vs 24GB, wider bus) than the China-specific 5090 D V2, making it valuable for AI and gaming.
Is the RTX 5090 discontinued?
No, NVIDIA has not discontinued it; shortages and price spikes drive gray-market demand.
Who reported this?
VideoCardz, citing HKEPC (Macau Customs source).
Bottom Line
A luxury gaming card has crossed into luxury goods territory. The RTX 5090, priced up to $10,000, is now valuable enough to appear in customs enforcement lists next to cigarettes and AirPods. If prices stay this high, gray-market trading will only increase.
Sources
- VideoCardz: RTX 5090, once a consumer gaming card, is now on smugglers’ menu alongside cigarettes, accessed 24 October 2026
- Source cited by VideoCardz: HKEPC (Macau Customs)
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