Zhao Yongji, vice-minister of Public Security January 22 called for a tighter crackdown on crimes in border and coastal areas involving smuggling and trafficking in drugs and guns.

Zhao told a national meeting attended by country's senior border police officers that they must go all out to contain the problems.

He said tough measures must be taken to deal a heavy blow to cross-border crimes, which are detrimental to the country's stability and the national interest.

The meeting, which concluded today, was told that a total of 9,129 stowaways and 925 "snakeheads" -- those paid to help stowaways get to their destination -- were seized last year by Chinese border policemen.

And a total of 2,011 smuggling cases were uncovered by the police, involving 680 million yuan (about 83 million US dollars) worth of goods.

The police also seized 1,602.2 kg of heroin last year in 1,142 cases, together with 2,027 heroin trafficking suspects.