Police in Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region said Monday they have seized 36.2 kilograms of heroin, the largest amount of the drug ever smuggled to the region.

Five suspects have been arrested, according to the Public Security Bureau of Yinchuan, the regional capital.

Three were captured in Southwest China's Yunnan Province while they were transporting the drugs to Ningxia. Two others were arrested at a hotel in Yinchuan, the capital of Ningxia.

A joint operation between police from Ningxia and Yunnan was responsible for the bust.

Under the country's Criminal Law, anyone convicted of smuggling, trafficking, transporting or making 50 grams of heroin or more can be sentenced to death or sent to prison for life.

In March, a local court in Southeast China's Fujian Province sentenced three men to death for selling 10.8 kilograms of drugs including heroin, methamphetamine and ketamine.

In 2012, police cracked some 120,000 drug-related crimes and arrested 130,000 suspects, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

Last year the country confiscated a total of 7.3 tons of heroin, 16.2 tons of methamphetamine, 4.7 tons of ketamine and more than 5,800 tons of chemical agents used to make drugs.

Global Times - Agencies