Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau said Wednesday they'd
closed down an Internet website selling guns, arrested 44 suspects
and confiscated 117 weapons.
More than 20,000 bullets, 16 knives and five computers used for
the trade were also confiscated, said a statement released by the
bureau.
This is the first gun-trading case via the Internet that Chinese
police have cracked this year, said Xu Jingfeng, a bureau police
officer. Buyers and sellers contacted each other electronically and
purchasers paid through Internet banks. Those selling the items
mailed them out, said Xu.
An appraisal of the confiscated guns showed that the majority
had been imported and were worth between 1,000 yuan and 4,000 yuan
(US$125 to 500) apiece, Xu said.
According to the Ministry of Public Security police have
confiscated more than 100,000 guns since China launched a special
nationwide campaign on the illegal possession of firearms and
explosives three months ago.
As of August 30 police had seized 1,648 tons of explosives, 3.84
million detonators, 1.95 million meters of fuse, 105,000 guns,
103,000 imitation weapons, 2.3 million bullets and 990,000
knives.
Meanwhile police have handled 6,500 criminal cases involving the
manufacture, trade, transport, storage, carrying and concealment of
explosives and firearms. They've uncovered 110 thefts of explosives
and have arrested 4,250 suspects involved in these cases. Police
have also shutdown 360 underground manufacturers and dealers of
explosives and guns.
During the campaign people have voluntarily handed over 289 tons
of explosives, 1.14 million detonators, 500,000 meters of fuse,
nine tons of explosive powder, 54,000 guns, 1.02 million bullets
and 250,000 knives.
(Xinhua News Agency September 7, 2006)