Chinese border police have called for more international co-operation to stop stowaways and assist in the rounding up of human smugglers.

More people smugglers are operating around the globe and the failure of overseas governments to hunt them down has greatly influenced the frequency of people smuggling cases, according to Deng Benyuan, a senior border police officer in East China's Fujian Province.

"We want to exchange more information with our overseas counterparts and strengthen mutual understanding and co-operation in an effort to try and stamp out people smuggling all together,'' he said.

At a press conference on Friday, Deng said the number of people sneaking into Taiwan Province and foreign countries from the mainland had climbed in recent years.

This year, a total of 2,225 people were sent back from Taiwan to Fujian -- an increase of 40 per cent over last year.

And 205 people were sent back from foreign countries such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United States and Malaysia.

"The people came from at least 20 provinces and regions around China and women are accounting for a larger percentage than ever before,'' Deng said.

Most of the women who were smuggled to Taiwan were then forced to work in the sex industry, he said.

Some of the women contracted venereal diseases and some fell pregnant. Since 2000, 41 pregnant women and 64 infants have been sent back to the mainland, according to official statistics.

"I was deceived,'' 23-year-old Wang Xiuqin wept when she was sent back to Fujian Province from Taiwan. She was among the 178 people who were handed over to Fujian border police on Friday.

Deng said people smuggling is not easily stopped as many people wanting to live elsewhere have relatives overseas to turn to.

In addition, some Western countries have double standards when dealing with illegal emigrants, based on political and economic reasons, which entices people to try their luck, Deng said.

Despite facing an uphill battle, border police have not spared any efforts in targetting people smugglers and their cargoes this year.

Statistics show police have cracked 262 cases and captured 1,456 suspects so far, respectively 15 and 30 per cent higher than last year.

Among those seized, 498 were people smugglers, and 70 of them have gone to jail.

"Those people caught included Lin Ju, who organized for 215 people to make their way into Japan, and who had been at large for eight years,'' Deng said. "And we've also caught Wang Jindi, who arranged for 48 people to go to Guam, who escaped five years ago.''

The senior officer announced on Friday that police gave a most wanted list which includes the name of 10 notorious people smugglers.

Information leading to their capture carries a reward of up to 80,000 yuan (US$9,600).

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