File photo: VCG

BEIJING, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese customs investigated 4,198 smuggling cases in 2019, up 16.8 percent year on year, data from the General Administration of Customs (GAC) showed Thursday.

Of the total cases, 2,038 were tax-related smuggling, up 15 percent and involving an aggregate value of 78.16 billion yuan (about 11.36 billion U.S. dollars).

Meanwhile, 372 cases were related to foreign garbage smuggling and involved 762,000 tonnes of waste, down significantly from the previous year.

Through continuous crackdown, the smuggling of foreign garbage has been effectively curbed, said an official with the GAC.

Customs also investigated 467 criminal smuggling cases related to endangered species and such products.