Chinese police dismantle online gun sales ring

Police in east China's Jiangsu Province have caught more than 20 suspects involved in an online gun sales network, authorities said Wednesday.

They seized more than 140 guns, hundreds of rifle components and more than 40,000 bullets, according to the provincial public security department.

In September last year, police in Xuzhou City discovered three gun barrels in a parcel delivered from Taiwan to a university employee after a tip-off.

Police searched the suspect's house and found gun manufacturing tools, one imitation air gun, 225 gun barrels, more than 4,000 lead bullets and piles of rifle components in his basement, which resembled an armory.

Over the following two weeks, a large number of parcels containing gun barrels and lead bullets were sent to him.

The suspect said he is a fan of the military. In early 2013, he became acquainted with a seller surnamed Xie from Taiwan via instant-message service QQ and became a sales agent for the Chinese mainland.

He allegedly purchased gun components from Xie and sold them to others through the Internet. He even bought steel tubing, which he gave to a local company to produce gun barrels so he could develop his own brand.

Police apprehended other suspects, including Xie, based on information provided by the university employee, who cannot be named pending investigation. Further investigation is under way.

Luo Wen, a police officer with the department, warned people, especially military fans, to stay away from guns.

China bans the manufacture and sale of guns in order to control violent crime. Private citizens are not allowed to own guns. According to Chinese law, a person can be sentenced to prison for up to seven years if convicted of illegally owning a gun. Endi