Officials are eager to close the investigation of the Yuan Hua smuggling scandal before the National People's Congress (NPC) annual session next month, fearing further probes would do more harm than good, sources said.
It is also understood that central and local authorities both agreed much needed to be done to repair the tarnished image of Fujian province over the scandal.
Earlier reports said Yuan Hua or Fairwell Group in Xiamen had smuggled billions of yuan in telecommunications equipment, cars, diesel and cigarettes into China. A large number of officials including those from the military and central leadership were reported to be involved.
A source said yesterday there were strong feelings among officials that the probe into the scandal should draw to a close following the arrest of Lai Changxing in Burma last month. Lai was the president of Yuan Hua Group.
'The arrest of Lai Changxing and crushing the smuggling syndicate led by Yuan Hua are already enough to send a warning to officials all over China,' the source said.
Further investigation might risk embarrassing the leadership with more findings about senior officials involved in the case, he said.