Illegal gun sellers dealt heavy blow

A total of 381 people have been arrested and more than 1,000 websites have been shut down for advertising guns for sale on the black market, the Ministry of Public Security said yesterday.

Also, about 120,000 related Web pages have been deleted, following a crackdown between August and October, it said on its website.

Chinese law forbids any organization or citizen to purchase or trade in guns and ammunition. Such weapons, under license, are permitted only in areas that have wild animals, such as at hunting lodges and gun clubs.