Police of Xiamen, east China's Fujian Province, recently broke a people smuggling attempt, arresting two organizers and 19 young female stowaways, police have said.

Xiamen is the nearest mainland city to Taiwan island across the Taiwan Straits.

The young women, aged between 16 and 25, were from 12 provinces including Anhui, Fujian, Hubei and Jiangxi. Lured by promises of high wages, they were picked up by organizers to be shipped to Taiwan, where they would serve as bar staff.

The would-be female stowaways were arranged to enter Xiamen in groups in late September and were expected to be smuggled into Taiwan recently.

Police are continuing to investigate into the case.

(Xinhua News Agency September 28, 2003)