BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese customs anti-smuggling authorities and Australian border enforcement agencies have cracked a major transnational tobacco smuggling case through a joint law enforcement operation, China's Ministry of Public Security said on Thursday.
The two sides seized more than 90 million smuggled cigarettes in the operation, marking a significant outcome in their joint crackdown on transnational tobacco smuggling, the ministry noted.
The case was uncovered during a targeted campaign launched by Zhanjiang Customs anti-smuggling authorities in south China's Guangdong Province to crack down on tobacco smuggling and counterfeit tobacco products.
The authorities unveiled a smuggling network that concealed counterfeit tobacco products made overseas in legitimate cargo for transit via China and onward shipment to Australia.
Chinese authorities shared the relevant leads with Australian border enforcement agencies through an existing customs law enforcement cooperation mechanism, leading to coordinated action by the two sides.
Australian border enforcement authorities praised the operation, saying it demonstrated the importance of international law enforcement cooperation and information sharing in combating transnational tobacco smuggling.
China's customs anti-smuggling authorities said the operation had disrupted channels used to smuggle tobacco into and through China and pledged to step up international cooperation against transnational smuggling. ■
