KUNMING - The 104th Mekong River joint patrol by China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand concluded on Friday, with four Chinese law-enforcement vessels returning home to port in southwest China's Yunnan Province.

A total of 128 law-enforcement officers from the four countries participated in the operation, with seven vessels navigating 612 km over four days and three nights, said the Yunnan provincial public security department.

The officers examined 84 vehicles and 31 tonnes of cargo during the patrol.

The Mekong River, known as the Lancang River in China, is a vital waterway for cross-border shipping between China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand have been carrying out joint patrols on the Mekong River since December 2011.