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)