Formal overseas purchasing is not illegal. Overseas purchasing is to help consumers buy goods through purchasing agents or individuals who often enter and leave the country. However, those who, in violation of state regulations, engage in franchise, monopoly commodities or other commodities whose operation is restricted by laws and administrative regulations without permission, thus disrupting market order, if the circumstances are serious, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than five years or criminal detention, and shall also, or shall only, be fined not less than one time but not more than five times the illegal income; If the circumstances are especially serious, he shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than five years, and shall also be fined not less than one time but not more than five times for illegal gains or confiscation of property. Article 225 of the Criminal Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) violates state regulations and commits one of the following illegal business operations. If the circumstances are serious, he shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than five years or criminal detention, and shall be fined not less than one time but not more than five times the illegal income; If the circumstances are especially serious, he shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than five years, and shall also be fined not less than one time but not more than five times his illegal income or his property shall be confiscated: (1) dealing in franchise, monopoly goods or other commodities whose business is restricted by laws and administrative regulations without permission; (2) buying and selling import and export licenses, import and export certificates of origin and other business licenses or approval documents stipulated by laws and administrative regulations; (three) without the approval of the relevant competent departments of the state, illegally engaged in securities, futures, insurance business, or illegally engaged in fund payment and settlement business; (four) other illegal business activities that seriously disrupt the market order.