BEIJING - China's customs have uncovered 174 solid waste smuggling cases since 2012, involving 385,900 tonnes of illegally imported garbage, such as electronics and discarded clothes, customs authorities revealed on Tuesday.

Some 712 suspects were captured in the smuggling cases, according to Zheng Yuesheng, spokesman for the General Administration of Customs.

Chinese law on the control of solid waste bans imports of solid waste that cannot be used as raw materials or that pose a serious risk to the environment.

However, driven by high profit margins, some dealers have smuggled or worked with overseas organizations to bring foreign garbage to China illegally, prompting authorities to launch campaigns to stop the activity.