Shanghai municipal fire authorities destroyed more than 12,000 boxes of illicit pyrotechnics at an artillery base in Fengxian District yesterday, the second such operation in the past 10 days.

Last Monday, the Shanghai Fire Control Bureau destroyed another 30,000 boxes of illegal fireworks worth about 6 million yuan (US$740,741).

Police said a system that offers cash awards for tips about people selling, storing, or transporting illegal fireworks has helped them make arrests in 40 cases so far this year.

They have arrested 11 suspects for producing or selling illegal fireworks since last year's Spring Festival, police said.

The municipal government set up a 2 million yuan fund to reward whistle blowers, who can earn 20 yuan for every box of illegal pyrotechnics seized.

Yesterday's action started early in the morning when 30 trucks loaded with recently seized contraband goods arrived at the artillery base.

Most of them were of inferior quality, and fire officials said they were very likely to cause injuries and pollute the environment.

"For example, the Magic Missile, which is also known as the Night-luminescent Pearl, is very dangerous to kids who may have their eyes and arms burnt when igniting the fireworks," said Zhou Meiliang of the municipality's Fire Control Bureau.

The on-site commander issued the order to explode the illegal fireworks at 11:30am and the pyrotechnics display continued for about an hour.

"As the Chinese Lunar New Year is drawing near, municipal fire departments will enhance their efforts to crack down on illegal fireworks business," Zhou said.

Beijing police confiscated Tuesday 2.5 tons of unlicensed firecrackers and fireworks, which were dangerous enough to demolish a village of 2 square kilometers, China News Service reported yesterday.

The owner, surnamed Wang, confessed that he had spent nearly 20,000 yuan (US$2,480) from an illegal production plant in Hebei Province, expecting to cash in on Beijing's new policy to lift the ban on firecrackers in the capital during the year's Spring Festival. He didn't have the proper sales license and was forced to sell the fireworks to the local grocery stores.

Wang has been detained.

(Shanghai Daily January 26, 2006)