The Los Angeles Post
U.S. World Business Lifestyle
Today: April 02, 2025
Today: April 02, 2025

US seizes over 350 websites used to import gun parts from China

Firearms Unknown as Biden considers legislation restricting
September 11, 2024
Nate Raymond - Reuters

By Nate Raymond

BOSTON (Reuters) - U.S. authorities said on Wednesday they had seized more than 350 websites selling gun silencers and parts from China used to covert semiautomatic pistols into fully automatic machine guns.

Federal prosecutors in Boston said the seizures followed an investigation since August 2023 into websites, businesses and people offering to illegally sell and import machine gun conversion devices.

Law enforcement conducted undercover purchases from those websites of gun-related items, resulting in shipments from China of packages that falsely described their contents as containing materials like a "necklace" or "toys," prosecutors said.

In fact, the packages contained machine gun conversion devices known as "switches" and silencers that are prohibited from being imported under the federal National Firearms Act, prosecutors said.

Many of the websites sold counterfeit goods and misused gun manufacturer Glock Inc's trademark to suggest the switches were produced by the company when they were not, authorities said in court papers.

"The seizure of these domains is a critical step in disrupting the flow of dangerous contraband that threatens public safety," Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy in Massachusetts said in a statement.

Over 700 machine gun conversion devices, 87 illegal suppressors, 59 handguns and 46 long guns have been seized as a result of the probe, in addition to the 355 websites, said Ketty Larco-Ward, inspector in charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service's Boston Division.

"The proliferation of readily available devices which allow the illegal manufacturing of machine guns is a plague on our communities," she said.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Richard Chang)

Share This

Popular

Americas|Crime|Health|Lifestyle

โ€˜What kind of piece of sh*t uses when pregnant?โ€™: Young mother speaks out on fentanyl addiction

โ€˜What kind of piece of sh*t uses when pregnant?โ€™: Young mother speaks out on fentanyl addiction
Celebrity|Crime|Health|US

Virginia Giuffre says she is in critical condition after car accident

Virginia Giuffre says she is in critical condition after car accident
Americas|Crime|Political|US

Priscilla Alvarez on what we know about father mistakenly deported, sent to El Salvador prison

Priscilla Alvarez on what we know about father mistakenly deported, sent to El Salvador prison
Business|Crime|Political|US

Trump uses power against foes unlike any other modern US president

Trump uses power against foes unlike any other modern US president

Crime

Crime|MidEast|Political|US|World

Suspected US airstrikes in Yemen kill at least 4 people near Hodeida, Houthi rebels say

Suspected US airstrikes in Yemen kill at least 4 people near Hodeida, Houthi rebels say
Crime|Election|Political|US

Lawsuit claims Elon Musk stiffed canvassers who helped his 2024 campaign efforts

Lawsuit claims Elon Musk stiffed canvassers who helped his 2024 campaign efforts
Crime|MidEast|Political

Two arrested as investigation into โ€˜QatarGateโ€™ in Israel deepens

Two arrested as investigation into โ€˜QatarGateโ€™ in Israel deepens
Crime|MidEast|Political|US

Mahmoud Khalilโ€™s case to remain in New Jersey after judge denies US governmentโ€™s bid to move it

Mahmoud Khalilโ€™s case to remain in New Jersey after judge denies US governmentโ€™s bid to move it

Access this article for free.

Already have an account? Sign In