Police in Hefei, capital of Anhui province, have detained four men suspected of illegally trafficking and possessing guns.

The four formed a live Counter-Strike (CS) game amateur team, and bought and sold imitation guns on the Internet. Developed from online shooting game Counter-Strike, the live CS game simulates military confrontation and combines live-action shooting with games. The activity is popular in China, where each participant dresses in camouflage and carries imitation guns.

Police arrested the four men, all from rich families, in April, and confiscated 30 imitation guns of classic types, including the AK47 and M249. The team head, 30-year-old Yang Jin, owns guns, a flak jacket, a US army combat uniform and even a grenade launcher, which is all worth tens of thousands of yuan. The police said the team members often played live CS with guns loaded with blank bullets and expensive bullet-proof equipment.

A police officer said imitation guns are dangerous and could be used in crimes.

(Xin'an Evening News)

(China Daily 07/04/2011 page5)