Sixteen suspects accused of smuggling and money laundering faced a court Tuesday in Beihai city of southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, according to sources with the Beihai Intermediate People's Court.

They were charged with cigarettes and diesel oil smuggling, evading 140 million yuan (US$16.87 million) taxes, and illegally transferring 170 million yuan (US$20.5 million) of "black money" overseas.

The gang, led by Huang Xitian and Zheng Jiming, was charged with eight criminal activities, six of which relate to smuggling cigarettes from overseas.

An official with the court pointed out that during the period from May 2003 to August 2004, the gang illegally transferred 170 million yuan to a Hong Kong account.

(Xinhua News Agency May 24, 2005)