The Chinese government, which banned Japanese beef in 2001, asked the Japanese government in December for enforcement help, Kyodo News Service reports.

Most of the would-be smugglers have been carrying luxury beef like Kobe. Some have had almost 50 pounds of meat concealed in their luggage, and in a few cases Japanese officials have caught people with far more beef.

The Chinese ban has been in force since mad-cow disease was detected in a Japanese animal. But wealthy Chinese restaurant-goers are willing to pay high prices for Kobe beef.