Chinese police destroy 100,000 illegal guns

An officer guards a cache of seized illegal guns in Yangzhou, East China's Jiangsu province on June 12, 2012. Police around China destroyed more than 100, 000 illegal guns and at least 250 tons of illegal explosives from 150 cities on June 12, 2012, the launch day of a nationwide campaign to crack down on illegal guns and ammunition. [Photo/Asianewsphoto]

A cache of seized illegal guns are displayed in Yangzhou, East China's Jiangsu province on June 12, 2012. The weapons will be destroyed by local police. [Photo/Asianewsphoto]

BEIJING - Police in 150 Chinese cities jointly destroyed more than 100,000 illegal guns Tuesday, the Ministry of Public Security said.

About 250 tons of illegal explosives will also be disposed of in the next few days, according to the statement from the ministry.

A large portion of these guns were seized by police during raids, and others were submitted by citizens, the statement said.

Half of the guns were confiscated during a national campaign targeting illegal guns and explosives, which started in February and will last until December, it said.

So far, police have busted more than 180 criminal organizations and detained 7,800 suspects involved in the illegal possession of guns and explosives, the statement said.

Since January, the number of criminal cases involving guns has dropped by 9.7 percent from the same period of last year, and criminal cases involving explosives have fallen by 21.6 percent, the statement said.

Last year, the incidence of crimes involving guns and explosives was notably reduced by 46 percent and 39 percent, respectively, from 2010, thanks to a similar national campaign.

Chinese police will strike hard on illegal guns and explosives, and they welcome citizens to provide information, the statement said.