The manufacture and sales of firearms are on the rise in China as more sellers turn to the Internet for potential customers.
Police have arrested 17 people suspected of involvement in online arms sales in Hengshui City in southern China's Hebei Province, the Sina English news portal reported on Wednesday.
Eight weapons, around 135,500 bullets, more than 9,000 gun components, and 10 arms manufacturing equipment were also seized during the arrest.
Hengshui public security chief Cheng Weiqing said that the suspects provided both wholesale and retail manufacturing of firearms, giving rise to a large online industry that sells guns, gun components and ammunition.
According to Sina, the police detected a man known as Zhang who ordered more than 3,000 gun-related items from various metalwork shops, which were later delivered to other parts of the country by courier. Zhang also rented a yard and nearby homes to serve as a warehouse for the goods.
Police said that Zhang used Tencent's popular QQ online messaging service to meet gun component dealers since May of 2014, publishing ads on the Internet and selling parts mainly to wholesalers who, in turn, sold the components and ammunition online in more than 20 provinces, cities and regions.
In two months, Zhang allegedly carried out 145 transactions valued at more than 800,000 yuan ($125,699) via his bank card and online payment provider Alipay, the report said.
Manufacture and sales of firearms are strictly regulated. Private citizens are not allowed to own guns and can be sentenced to up to seven years in prison if convicted of possessing one illegally.