About 3,000 foreigners, mostly from Southeast Asian countries, have been arrested since Feb 20 for illegally entering China as part of a crackdown on people smuggling.

The Ministry of Public Security has also apprehended 142 organizers, including 29 from Southeast Asia and South Asia, it was revealed at a news conference on Wednesday morning.

The foreigners were transported to coastal areas in Guangdong province, where some were enrolled in local factories, and others were smuggled to Hong Kong.

A large number of the immigrants committed crimes, both on the mainland and in Hong Kong, said Yin Chengjun, division head of the Ministry of Public Security's border control bureau.

"These activities are well organized and involve suspects from both the mainland and Hong Kong, forming a complete chain of people smuggling," he said.