Police have detained 43 suspects and seized a large quantity of firearms and parts after cracking down on a number of gun and related crimes in Shantou, Shanwei and Zhanjiang since the beginning of the year, a senior police officer said.
Weapons seized include rifles, semi-automatics, handguns and shotguns, according to Zheng Dong, deputy director general of Guangdong provincial department of public security.
"Police have also busted a number of underground gun production and sales locations and swooped on gangs that used to produce and sell guns or use guns to rob locals in the three cities," he said in Guangzhou on Tuesday.
In Lufeng which is under the administration of Shanwei, police detained two suspects and seized a shotgun and 10 bullets after busting a major gang that used guns to rob locals on March 26, Zheng said, adding: "In Lufeng alone, police have fought eight gun and gun related cases so far".
Police in Xuwen county of Zhanjiang also busted a major gang that used to be active in using guns to rob and threaten locals' lives and the safety of residents' properties at the beginning of last month.
Lin Weixiong, director of the Criminal Investigation Bureau under Zheng's department, said Guangdong, which borders Hong Kong and Macao, is usually the main theater of the country's fight against gun and related crimes.
