Chinese police shocked to find illegal "mini-arsenal"

Chinese policemen in east China's Wuxi city were shocked to find a wide range of gun-related equipment while busting an online gun selling ring.

Nine guns and more than 10,000 components were seized by police in east China's Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, local police said in a statement on Tuesday.

Police received a tip-off in November last year from courier service staff who found questionable items that were believed to be gun components in a delivery package.

Officers traced the package to a suspect surnamed Shen and later seized more than 10,000 items including gun parts and silencers.

"We were shocked to find so many parts and gun-making equipment at Shen's warehouse, like a mini-arsenal. The parts can be used to make at least 30 guns," said a police officer.

Shen, a self-proclaimed machinery fan, said he started making guns in June last year, after he successfully assembled a machine gun using components he bought online.

Police also caught three other suspects who sold gun parts to Shen.

Manufacturing and sale of guns is very strictly regulated in China to control violent crime. Ordinary private citizens are not allowed to own guns and can be sentenced to up to seven years in prison if convicted of illegally possessing one. Endi