The amount represents a steep decline from 1998, when heroin seizures reached an all-time high. Nonetheless, China still accounts for more heroin seizures than all other East Asian countries combined. Methamphetamine seizures continued to soar, with this year's total seizures eclipsing last year's record haul. In the course of the investigation, Chinese authorities arrested several suspects and seized 100,000 tablets bound for the United States. Although this case demonstrates effective bilateral cooperation on narcotics, Chinese responses to U.S. requests for information and assistance in narcotics investigations often come too late to be of operational value.
Chinese officials admit that corruption is one of the most serious problems the country faces.
An ongoing anticorruption campaign has led to the arrest of hundreds of government officials. The execution of a former provincial Vice Governor and a Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee attest to the extent of the campaign, as well as to the degree to which corruption has permeated Chinese society. One smuggling and corruption scandal in the southern port city of Xiamen involved official complicity in avoiding duties on approximately USD 10 billion worth of consumer goods. Most other official graft in China involves misappropriation of funds, abuse of power, and embezzlement. There have been instances of PRC officials embezzling funds and then emigrating to the United States.