Chinese police uncovered a total of 21 compact disc production lines in 2004 in cooperation with press and publishing administrative bodies across the country, all smuggled by foreign pirates to the country for illegal operations.

"The recent crackdowns have added the total number of illegal production lines of audio and visual works to 200," said an official with the State Administration of Press and Publication.

All the 200 production lines have been brought in by foreign crime gangs of pirates, which turned China into a major country victimized by intellectual property rights violation, the official said.

The most recent police anti-piracy raids were launched in December last year in south China's Shenzhen City, which netted six video disc production lines, including two "Toolex" lines made in Netherlands, along with 85,000 illegal discs already produced, government sources said.

Criminal suspects involved in the cases are under investigation by local police.

(Xinhua News Agency January 1, 2005)