In a drive to reduce the risks associated with illegal explosives, guns and knives, Shanghai police confiscated 1,520 boxes of illegal firecrackers ready to be shipped to Ethiopia at the end of last month, police said yesterday.

The owner of the firecrackers, Guangzhou Junda Trading Company, a Guangdong-based company, was charged with illegal transportation of firecrackers, said Chen Jiahua, from Shanghai police.

According to Chen, on July 20 at the customs checkpoint at Shanghai port, police found a container holding the firecrackers.

"They were listed as plastic reels instead of firecrackers on the customs declaration form," Chen told China Daily yesterday.

"They tried to pretend they were ordinary goods instead of explosives to pass customs, but they failed," said Chen.

"Trying to pass one thing off as something else when shipping goods is against law. The case is continuing."

To ensure the safety of these risky firecrackers, they have already been moved from the port to a storehouse specially built for keeping explosives.

Starting in June, Shanghai police launched a four-month-long crackdown on illegal explosives, guns and knives after a call from the Ministry of Public Security.

Police have seized 1,100 unauthorized guns and 2,200 unauthorized daggers, as well as illegal fireworks. A total of 67 suspects involved with illegal guns have been arrested.

(China Daily August 17, 2006)