Chinese tofu maker ‘turned to arms dealing’ after business was forced to close down
Former food manufacturer arrested on suspicion of running network that sold illegal air guns across 20 provinces
A tofu maker accused of turning to arms dealing after his business got into difficulties has been detained by police in eastern China on suspicion of running a network selling illegal air guns.
The 34-year-old tofu shop owner, identified by his surname Zhou, set up a network that within four months had covered 20 provinces and had made a profit of over 100,000 yuan (US$15,172) before being caught, local police officer Qiao Zhining told Legal Daily.
He is alleged to have produced illegal air guns which he sold online in the coastal city of Ningbo.
The report said he used online chatting tool QQ and instant messaging app WeChat to advertise and send the parcels in collaboration with a local delivery company, which was fined 300,000 yuan and suspended from trading as police continued their investigations.
Zhou is accused of setting up the gun business with a friend named Ying, who used to work in the hardware industry, after the tofu shop closed because it was struggling to meet anti-pollution regulations.