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)
