Great Gains in Combating Smuggling in 1998 Outstanding results were yielded in battling smuggling in China in 1998. In the year, over 8300 smuggling cases were crashed valued at 15.4 billion yuan, an increase of 15% and 129% over a year earlier respectively. Of which 1805 were major cases each valued at over 50000 yuan with a total value of 13.7 billion yuan, a rise of 60% and 120% over a year ago respectively. Extraordinarily major cases feature the anti-smuggling drive in the previous year. 14 cases each were valued at 100 million yuan with a total value of 5.498 billion yuan, a growth of 100% and 525% respectively. As a result of the reinforced anti-smuggling efforts, trade value showed a palpable increment last July and prices began rebounding for home-made commodities which had been affected by smuggling, resulting in booming production and marketing. Pricing rose for processed oil, audible oil, chemical raw materials, textile raw materials, plywood, rolled steel, cigarettes, computer and others. The price rose about 500 yuan for a ton of diesel oil ; the price for a ton of plastic raw materials increased 900 yuan; and a ton of polyester cut sheets sold 1500 yuan more.