Beijing, Oct 15 (IANS): Chinese police in 164 cities have destroyed hundreds of thousands of confiscated guns, knives and detonators, Xinhua reported Tuesday citing a statement from the ministry of public security.

About 130,000 illegal shotguns and air guns, 670,000 imitation guns, 460,000 forbidden knives and many illegally stored detonators have been destroyed as part of an annual nationwide campaign, the statement said.

Crimes related to guns and explosives continued to fall by 41.4 percent and 27.5 percent, respectively, it said.

China has maintained high pressure on gun-related crimes and has mobilised the public to turn in illegal guns and explosives and report suspicions to the police.

The police also cracked down on internet gun sales and black markets, clearing about 108,000 pieces of illegal online information and clamped down on 1,233 websites, the statement said.

The police seized 408 suspects, confiscated 325 guns, 32,000 bullets and many gun parts in a case of illegal internet gun sales in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Quite a few suspects gave themselves up to the police or voluntarily turned in illegal guns after the ministry of public security started a related crackdown, according to the police.

It added that the police have negotiated with prosecutors and judges to lessen or remove penalties, if suspects turn themselves in before Oct 31.