172 people arrested for online gun sales in China

Police in China have arrested 172 people and busted 12 gangs allegedly involved in online sale of guns in eight provincial regions, the government said today.
The police has also busted 13 gun manufacturing dens and confiscated 366 firearms, including air guns, pistols and shotguns, as well as over 20,000 accessories, state run Xinhua news agency said quoting the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) statement.
However, the period during which the arrests were made was not specified.
According to the Ministry, which has pledged to continue tough stance against the gun crime, online gun sales seriously disturbs social stability and the people's sense of security.

It asked the public to improve their legal knowledge, not to manufacture or sell guns, and turn in any illegally possessed guns.
They also encouraged the people to report any knowledge of gun crime to the police.

In March 2016, police from east China's Jiangxi Province noticed information on gun sales that was published via groups on WeChat, China's most popular instant messaging application.
In subsequent investigations, police found that deals were mainly made on WeChat, resulting in sales of more than 20 guns and over 3,000 bullets.
Possession of guns by private individuals is illegal in China.
The Ministry had announced that a two-year campaign would be launched, targeting the manufacture and sale of guns and explosives in China, and the smuggling of related goods from other countries.

Since last July, police have solved over 3,800 criminal cases on the illegal manufacture and sales of guns and explosives, busted 192 manufacturing dens and 265 gun sales websites, while investigating some 25,000 suspects, the report said.