The department detected 232 smuggling cases,arrested 358 persons for smuggling offences and seized contraband worth $204 million,representing a 54 per cent decrease as compared with 1996.

• 香港海关侦破了232宗走私案件，拘捕了358名疑犯并检获价值2.；04亿元的走私物品；与一九九六年相比，减少了54%25。