Beijing police confiscated yesterday 2.5 tons of unlicensed firecrackers and fireworks, which were dangerous enough to demolish a village of 2 square kilometers, China News Service said today.

 

During a patrol, two policemen, Han Jiwen and Li Shuming, found a van carrying poor-quality firecrackers in front of a grocery store in Henan Village of Renhe Town, the report said.

 

Han and Li followed the van owner, Wang Guangsheng, home to further investigate. In a room of Wang's house, which is smaller than 20 square meters, 58 boxes of all kinds of firecrackers and fireworks were being stored.

 

Wang confessed that he had spent nearly 20,000 yuan (US$2,480) from an illegal production plant in Hebei Province, expecting to cash in on Beijing's new policy to lift the ban on firecrackers in the capital during the year's Spring Festival. He didn't have the proper sales license and was forced to sell the fireworks to the local grocery stores.

 

Wang has been detained.

 

(Shanghai Daily January 25, 2006)