Chinese customs authorities reported 7,240 smuggling cases, involving 13.7 billion yuan (1.76 billion U.S. dollars) worth of goods, last year, said sources with the General Administration of Customs (GAC) on Tuesday.

Of the total, 1,139 cases were prosecuted, involving 13.59 billion yuan and 2,859 suspects.

Customs authorities also uncovered 2,745 intellectual property right infringement cases and seized 788.97 kilograms of drugs and 3.53 million pieces of illegal publications.

A total of 2.15 billion tons of goods, worth 1.76 trillion U.S. dollars, and 328 million travelers were inspected by customs authorities last year.

Source: Xinhua