60,000 copyright pirates nabbed in 2013

As many as 59,222 suspects of intellectual property rights (IPR) infringement were seized by the Chinese police in 2013, the Ministry of Public Security revealed on Tuesday.

They were involved in 55,180 cases with an estimated value of 173 billion yuan (about 28 billion U.S. dollars), ministry official Gao Feng told a press conference.

More than 90 million tonnes of counterfeit and substandard goods were confiscated, and 1,260 criminal networks smashed. During a special campaign against online sales of fake drugs, a record 300 million pills worth 2.2 billion yuan were taken by police,.

Gao also said that the police had cooperated on IPR with Interpol, the World Customs Organization and law enforcement authorities from various countries, including the United States, Britain and France.

In May, 2013, the Ministry of Public Security and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security busted a fake stimulant drugs trafficking gang, capturing eight suspects, he said.

The ministry also took part in Interpol's Operation Hurricane against counterfeiting and trafficking last year, helping resolve 2,914 cases.

Gao promised a stern crackdown on counterfeiting during Spring Festival, the Chinese lunar new year, and the whole of 2014.