Beijing Customs foiled 208 smuggling attempts and retrieved 278 million yuan during its intensified combat against smuggling last year, according to the latest customs statistics.

The effective crackdown was attributed to closer customs surveillance of international smuggling channels from overseas and new sensor equipment at checkpoints.

The tighter customs checks of high-tech imports such as telecommunications equipment and computers also helped, according to customs sources.

The Beijing Customs also retrieved more than 50 million yuan in attempted tax evasion in 1999, and prevented the smuggling of 1,307 cultural relics and 1,200 endangered wild plants and animals.