Police in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region said Monday that they have caught 23 suspected drug traffickers.

On March 23, a joint operation by police in cities of Chongzuo, Pingxiang and Fangchenggang seized 24 kilograms of heroin, and confiscated more than 400,000 yuan (about 65,000 U.S. dollars) and six vehicles.

Police had observed a gang ferrying drugs from Chongzuo, which borders Vietnam, to other cities in Guangxi, and to the provinces of Guangdong and Hainan. Most suspects are from the same family.

Based on a tip-off, police caught nine suspects on March 23 at the China-Vietnam border. Another 14 suspects were apprehended in raids.

Some border cities and counties in Guangxi, "transfer stops" between China, Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries, have serious drug problems.