Thu Sep 12 01:07:57 UTC 2024: ## U.S. Authorities Seize Over 350 Websites Selling Illegal Gun Modifications from China
**Boston, MA** – Federal authorities have shut down over 350 websites allegedly operating as a hub for the illegal sale of gun switches and silencers imported from China. The crackdown, announced Wednesday, resulted in the seizure of hundreds of illegal conversion devices and firearms, including handguns, long guns, and suppressors.
The operation, led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, began in 2023 with undercover purchases from the websites. The seized items were shipped from China to U.S. government-controlled mailboxes, often disguised as “necklaces” or “toys” to avoid detection.
“These websites represent a large-scale, organized effort to import illegal switches and silencers that turn ordinary firearms into deadly automatic weapons,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol of HSI New England. “HSI has worked diligently with our partners to systematically dismantle this network of websites to uphold our nation’s import laws and to preserve public safety.”
Authorities emphasized the dangers posed by these conversion devices, which can transform semiautomatic pistols into fully automatic weapons, capable of firing multiple rounds with a single trigger pull. The illegal importation of these devices violates the National Firearms Act.
“The results of this investigation have, to date, resulted in the seizure of over 700 devices which would convert a firearm into a machine gun, 87 illegal suppressors, 59 handguns, 36 long guns, as well as the seizure of 355 websites which were used to facilitate the trafficking of these items,” said Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division.
The investigation highlights the ongoing challenges of combating illegal firearms trafficking and underscores the importance of international cooperation in curbing the flow of illicit weapons.
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