Fifty pieces of Tangka, or a kind of Tibetan tapestry woven with gold or silk and usually with an embroidered portrait of Buddha on the surface, and 118 pure silver ingots were, among other valuables, discovered in air cargo and held by Beijing customs, according to official information released Sunday.

All the smuggled goods were applied for export through an express service agency in the name of an individual, and the Tangka were destined for a US address and the others were being sent to Japan, said Beijing customs officers.

Some kinds of ancient Tangka are invaluable and extremely vital and precious to Tibetan Buddhism.

Experts said that half of the Tangka in the cargo belong to the priceless legacy of Tibetan Buddhism, and so are banned for export. Export of all the silver bars is also illegal.

Also discovered were some ancient cigarette holders, Buddha sculptures and scoops, noted the customs.

The invaluable articles were confiscated by customs in late September and the case is still under investigation.

(Xinhua News Agency September 29, 2003)