China's customs last year uncovered 13,000 smuggling cases involving 9.9 billion Yuan, or US$1.2 billion.

Almost 2,000 smugglers were charged with criminal offenses.

Customs departments also clamped down on trafficking of drugs, cultural relics and pirated DVD disks.

Almost 5,000 kg of drugs were seized during 2003. 

(CRI January 10, 2004)