China's customs seize 323,000 tonnes of smuggled waste

BEIJING, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Customs in 13 Chinese provincial regions seized 323,000 tonnes of smuggled waste in a move against the import of "foreign garbage."

Some 127 suspects were arrested during the action, the fourth round in the "Blue Sky" campaign against solid waste smuggling, General Administration of Customs spokesperson Huang Songping said Tuesday.

However, Huang did not say where the waste, including waste plastic and mineral waste residue, had come from.

Huang said the country will continue the crackdown against smuggled waste to block imports of "foreign garbage."

Since the "Blue Sky" campaign started in February, it has led to the opening of 298 criminal cases nationwide, seizure of 866,800 tonnes of smuggled solid waste and the arrest of 421 suspects. Enditem