China Coast Guard busts smuggling network, arrests 121 suspects in 32 cases

(ECNS) -- In a coordinated effort to combat maritime smuggling, the Nanhai branch of the China Coast Guard, with support from law enforcement agencies in Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan, has cracked 32 smuggling-related cases and arrested 121 suspects as of Friday.

The authority has seized 55 vessels in total, along with 206 metric tons of smuggled frozen goods, 718 cartons of cigarettes, as well as batches of seafood, animal pelts, and refined oil. The total case value exceeds 25 million yuan ($3.57 million).

Smuggling-related incidents in the jurisdiction have dropped by 29 percent compared to the same period last year, effectively deterring smuggling.

The special operation, which began on Jan. 15, successfully dismantled a major maritime smuggling case, a cross-border smuggling network that illegally traded frozen goods across China, and a smuggling syndicate specializing in cargo protection.