China has launched a vigorous campaign against smuggling, which has been rampant in south China for years (often with the help of local customs and military officials. ) While the number of cases prosecuted was up 36 percent in 1999 (to 21,117) from 1998, the value of seized good was down 39 percent (to $1.5 billion) from 1998. The corruption brought about by the smuggling have cost the government a lot of respect among the population.
