Police destroy illegal weapons in China

Chinese police in 164 cities have destroyed hundreds of thousands of confiscated guns, knives and detonators, a statement from the Ministry of Public Security said on Tuesday. About 130,000 illegal shotguns and air guns, 670,000 replica guns, 460,000 forbidden knives and many illegally stored detonators have been destroyed as part of an annual nationwide campaign, the statement said. Crimes related to guns and explosives continued to fall by 41.4 percent and 27.5 percent year on year, respectively, it said. China has maintained high pressure on gun-related crimes and has mobilized the public to turn in illegal guns and explosives and report suspicions to the police. The police also cracked down on Internet gun sales and black markets, clearing about 108,000 pieces of illegal online information and clamping down on 1,233 websites, the statement said. The police seized 408 suspects, confiscated 325 guns, 32,000 bullets and more than 8,900 gun parts in a case of illegal Internet gun sales covering 29 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities. The case caught the eye of the police in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Many suspects were previously enthusiastic fans of various weapons, but turned their hobby into a way of making money by helping others buy guns, according to the police. "Cyberspace is a hotbed for gun sales. They evade regular Internet transaction platforms and use express delivery," the statement said. The police also noted that lethal replica guns were considered real guns by law, and illegal possession, buying or selling these replicas will receive punishment as if they were real. Many suspects gave themselves up to the police or voluntarily turned in their illegal guns after the Ministry of Public Security started a related crackdown, according to the police. Police have negotiated with prosecutors and judges to lessen or annul penalties if suspects turn themselves in before Oct. 31.