Korea has strengthened customs inspections to stop smuggling of pills made of dead human fetuses or infants from China as such pills could pose serious health hazards, officials said Sunday.

Smuggling of the so-called "human flesh capsules" has increased since the first case was caught in August last year. Customs authorities have so far uncovered 35 attempts to bring in such pills, totaling 17,451 capsules, in travelers' luggage or by mail.

Such pills are believed to be sold as stamina enhancement drugs, but customs officials said they are contaminated with "super bacteria" and other disease-causing organisms and could cause serious health problems.

Some of those pills are smuggled in capsules of other legitimate drugs to disguise the contents.

Officials said they will strengthen inspections of drugs arriving from China, especially such cities as Yanji, Jilin, Qingdao and Tianjin, where many of human flesh pills are believed to be produced. (Yonhap)