Police in northern China's Hebei province have arrested 17 people suspected of involvement in an online firearms sales network, Hengshui Public Security Bureau announced on Thursday.

Accused of illegally manufacturing and selling guns, gun parts and ammunition, the suspects were rounded up in a coordinated effort by officers in 10 provinces.

The investigation began in May, when a man known only as Zhang was said to have ordered more than 3,000 items that appeared to be gun components - bolts, triggers and barrels - from various metalwork shops in Jingxian county. The items were then delivered to other parts of the country by courier. Zhang rented a yard and surrounding homes in the county to serve as a warehouse for the goods, according to the authorities.

Zhang used Tencent's QQ, a popular online messaging service, to become acquainted with many gun component dealers, the authorities said. He allegedly published advertisements on the Internet and sold the parts mainly to wholesalers, making more than 1 million yuan ($156,200). The wholesalers in turn sold the components, as well as ammunition, online in at least 20 provinces, cities and regions.

The manufacture and sale of firearms is 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 illegal possession.

From March to May, Zhang allegedly carried out 145 transactions totaling more than 800,000 yuan via his bank card and online payment provider Alipay.

Hengshui police said eight complete weapons were seized, along with 10 "arms manufacturing devices", 135,500 bullets, more than 9,000 gun components and more than 40 computers and mobile phones. About 500,000 yuan in cash was also confiscated.

(China Daily 08/28/2015 page4)