The Beijing Customs announced that it had smashed the year's first case of antique smuggling, which involved three items forbidden to be brought abroad and 80 items restricted in export.

The haul included ancient portraits, tea sets, wooden figurines, masks and pieces of embroidery. All were declared as "artware" and were addressed to overseas destinations in express mail parcels, Zhao Fugui, a customs official, said on Friday.

He said the most precious item was a dark-gray gallipot some 20 cm tall and eight cm in diameter in the upper mouth. The tiny characters engraved on its surface suggest that it is more than 300 years old.

The items also included dainty shoes six cm long worn by Chinese women in the past. The shoes are exquisitely embroidered, and bear small copper bells on the heels.

Zhao did not provide any details on the senders or consignees.

The items were seized in mid-January. In January alone, Beijing reported a 20-percent year-on-year rise in the volume of express airmail, a fast and cost-effective means of delivery, said Zhao, warning that smugglers may take advantage of airmail to seek illegal profits.

(Xinhua News Agency February 8, 2004)