The increasing prevalence of guns confiscated in China's drug cases has the government alarmed after a total of 500 firearms were impounded following multiple drug busts all over the country last year.
According to data from the China National Narcotics Control Commission, 257 drug cases have been cracked at the city police department levels in 2015, an increase of 52 percent from the previous year. In just those drug cases, 476 guns have been seized, an average of almost two guns sequestered per case.
According to China Daily, in the most recent big time drug case in Shaoyang, Hunan province, for example, 70 kilograms of methamphetamine, two guns and 40 rounds of ammunition have been taken from 16 people.
The gunfights resulting from raids has also claimed the lives of some police officers including Yang Jungang, head of the investigative squad of the police in Pu'er, Yunnan province, who was killed in March.
The guns confiscated in the drug trade has been gaining momentum in the last few years with the commission pointing out that the sharp increase is especially observable in the number last year.
Barring a few exceptions, private possession of guns in China is prohibited by law. Anyone who owns a gun without a permit can face a maximum of seven years behind bars.
