Explosion and gun violence cases in China dropped by about 27 percent and 11 percent respectively in the first five months of 2007, compared with the same period of last year, according to police statistics.

"Chinese police have intensified a nationwide campaign to curb illegal production, storage and possession of explosives and guns, " a Ministry of Public Security spokesman said on Thursday.

The official said the police seized 639 tons of illegally-made explosives, 1.9 million detonators, 263,000 meters of fuse, 19,000 guns, 24,000 replica firearms, 330,000 bullets and 80,000 illegal knives during the first five months this year.

The booty was gathered in more than 2,260 explosive and gun-related cases in five months, and police shut down 119 illegal weapon depots, according to ministry statistics.

China's police have confiscated 12,350 tons of explosives and 502,000 guns in the past five years. The number of explosion and gun violence cases has dropped continuously since 2001, thanks to several national high-profile campaigns.

(Xinhua News Agency June 22, 2007)