A former judge from Langfang City in Hebei Province was reportedly arrested early last week in Beijing for allegedly selling guns and bullets illegally on the Internet.

China bans the private ownership of guns.

Forty-one-year-old Li Tongwen, a former judge at Yongqing County court, allegedly bought 30 guns and 1,000 bullets from Xining, capital of northwest China's Qinghai Province, between last November and April, according to Yanzhao Metropolis Daily yesterday.

He started the business last year after a trip to Xining, where Li met some people offering weapons.

As a law enforcer, Li traveled safely with the lethal weapons from Xining to many cities across China.

His position helped him evade security checks at airports and train stations.

Li sold one type of gun for between 6,000 yuan (US$725) and 7,000 yuan (US$846) to Xu Guangquan and Zhang Haifeng in the Changping and Chaoyang districts of Beijing.

Li and 14 other suspects involved in the illegal trade were not discovered until an ex-soldier discovered Li's advertisement for guns on the Internet.

The retired serviceman reported the matter to the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau.

The police arrested 15 suspects and confiscated 26 guns and over 460 bullets. Some suspects are still at large.

(China Daily June 2, 2005)