The Japanese police recently announced the arrest of a Chinese man on suspicion of repeatedly smuggling lethal plastic “mobile phone transformable guns” (foldable mobile phone guns) from China into Japan for profit, in violation of Japan’s Firearms and Swords Control Law. The police stated that they are still investigating whether there are any international criminal accomplices involved in the case.
According to Asahi Shimbun, the 46-year-old man, Yi Feng Zhi, is accused of colluding with three Japanese men to smuggle double-barreled handguns disguised as smartphones through air cargo channels between May and October last year.
These firearms were sold under the guise of “toys” on the Japanese internet from July to October last year, with a selling price of approximately 3000 Japanese yen (about 19 US dollars). They closely resembled smartphones and even had a “fake camera lens” on the surface, but could transform into double-barreled handguns by simply pulling apart the sides.
After discovering suspicious items on domestic e-commerce platforms, the police promptly launched an investigation and swiftly traced the source and smuggling routes. The 24 seized gun bodies were all equipped with separate “muzzles” and metal “triggers,” far exceeding the standards of ordinary toys. The police emphasized that despite being advertised as “toys” online, these guns possess deadly firepower.
The three Japanese men involved in the case are aged between 31 and 50 and reside in Tokyo and Osaka. Among them are a corporate executive and a sole proprietor. They are suspected of colluding to facilitate online firearms transactions within Japan and were formally charged with violating the Firearms and Swords Control Law on November 26 this year. While tracking the source of the goods and smuggling routes, the police identified Yi Feng Zhi as the main contact person and supplier.
The police pointed out that this case appears to have been planned and carried out by an organization known as the “anonymous mobile criminal gang.” Members of such groups maintain hidden identities, possess specialized skills, and primarily conduct transactions online, making them highly mobile and covert and significantly increasing the difficulty of investigation.
The police have stated that they will continue to investigate the sources of firearms, overseas supply chains, and potential accomplices within Japan, while also enhancing communication with customs authorities to focus on identifying the characteristics of disguised weapons to prevent similar incidents from happening again.