Shanghai municipal fire authorities destroyed more than 12,000
boxes of illicit pyrotechnics at an artillery base in Fengxian
District yesterday, the second such operation in the past 10
days.
Last Monday, the Shanghai Fire Control Bureau destroyed another
30,000 boxes of illegal fireworks worth about 6 million yuan
(US$740,741).
Police said a system that offers cash awards for tips about
people selling, storing, or transporting illegal fireworks has
helped them make arrests in 40 cases so far this year.
They have arrested 11 suspects for producing or selling illegal
fireworks since last year's Spring Festival, police said.
The municipal government set up a 2 million yuan fund to
reward whistle blowers, who can earn 20 yuan for every box of
illegal pyrotechnics seized.
Yesterday's action started early in the morning when 30 trucks
loaded with recently seized contraband goods arrived at the
artillery base.
Most of them were of inferior quality, and fire officials said
they were very likely to cause injuries and pollute the
environment.
"For example, the Magic Missile, which is also known as the
Night-luminescent Pearl, is very dangerous to kids who may have
their eyes and arms burnt when igniting the fireworks," said Zhou
Meiliang of the municipality's Fire Control Bureau.
The on-site commander issued the order to explode the illegal
fireworks at 11:30am and the pyrotechnics display continued for
about an hour.
"As the Chinese Lunar New Year is drawing near, municipal
fire departments will enhance their efforts to crack down on
illegal fireworks business," Zhou said.
Beijing police confiscated Tuesday 2.5 tons of unlicensed
firecrackers and fireworks, which were dangerous enough to demolish
a village of 2 square kilometers, China News Service reported
yesterday.
The owner, surnamed 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 26, 2006)