Police have seized 2,583 tons of explosives and 79,000 guns since March, when they launched a security campaign ahead of the Beijing Olympics, the Ministry of Public Security said on Thursday in a website circular.

Police also seized 13.17 million detonators and 10.84 million meters of fuses, 757,000 kg of gunpowder, 1.8 million fake guns, 1.33 million knives, 743,000 kg of toxic chemicals, and 3.85 million military bullets plus 1.9 million for civilian use, the ministry's figures showed.

As of Aug. 31, the circular said, 6,523 explosive-related cases and 4,666 gun-related cases were reported, involving 16,631 people.

Police also destroyed 578 hide-outs and broke up 254 gangs involved in arms and explosives trafficking.

Chinese law forbids civilians from keeping guns, ammunition, explosives and certain knives. Violations draw sentences of three to 10 years in ordinary cases but life imprisonment and the death penalty in serious cases.

(Xinhua News Agency September 26, 2008)