5.5 tons of smuggled drugs seized last year

Anti-smuggling departments across China investigated 749 cases of drug trafficking last year and seized 5.53 metric tons of drugs, the Ministry of Public Security said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

They also handled 66 cases of smuggling weapons and ammunition, leading to the confiscation of 119 air guns, it said.

Customs anti-smuggling departments also targeted tax evasion through offshore duty-free shopping in Hainan province, the smuggling of agricultural products and foreign waste, and smuggling-related crimes including fraudulent claims for export tax refunds and the issuance of fraudulent value-added tax invoices.

The authorities handled 4,959 smuggling cases in total, the ministry said.