China seized 60,000 piracy suspects last year

BEIJING (AP) -- Chinese state media say police seized almost 60,000 suspects involved in intellectual property infringement cases with a total estimated value of 173 billion yuan ($28 billion) in 2013.

The official Xinhua News Agency says more than 90 million tons of counterfeit and substandard goods were confiscated last year, and more than 1,000 criminal networks smashed.

It also reported Tuesday that during a campaign against the sale of fake drugs online, police seized a record 300 million pills worth 2.2 billion yuan ($360 million).

China's rampant piracy and widespread production of bogus goods is a major irritant in its relations with trading partners.