SHANGHAI is going to come down heavily this year on Internet intellectual property rights infringement and fake products sold online.

Officials added yesterday that the crackdown would also target counterfeit infant formula and health products.

Authorities in the city busted more than 3,500 cases involving IPR infringement and counterfeit products last year, up 12.9 percent from 2015.

Last year, a total of 170 million yuan (US$25 million) was involved and Shanghai police caught 1,125 suspects in 670 cases involving intellectual property rights infringement and counterfeit products.

In one particular case, 68 people were arrested for making and selling 4,000 bottles of fake luxury liquor.

In another case, police busted a gang making and selling machines used to produce fake cigarettes, and 20 machines were seized.

Last year, more than 900 websites were shut down for irregularities by Shanghai authorities.

Authorities will also step up monitoring of small commodity markets suspected of selling fake goods.