US authorities announced on Wednesday that they have discovered over 350 websites that were used to illegally import gun silencers and switches from China.
According to a statement from the Massachusetts US Attorney’s Office, the websites uncovered by federal authorities in Boston were used for the illegal importation of switches and silencers from China. Switches are components used to convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic ones. The possession of these items, as well as importing them from certain countries including communist China, is prohibited under the National Firearms Act in the US.
Court documents reveal that in August 2023, federal authorities in the US initiated an investigation into multiple websites, businesses, and individuals violating federal laws by selling and exporting machine gun conversion devices. Law enforcement officers reportedly made undercover purchases of gun-related items from these websites, confirming that they were indeed selling illegal switches and silencers. These prohibited items were then shipped from China to mailboxes controlled by the US government, falsely labeled as items like “necklaces” and “toys” to conceal the illegal importation.
“These websites represent a large-scale, organized effort to import illegal switches and silencers, which can turn ordinary firearms into deadly automatic weapons,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “Our network investigations aim to prevent illegal switches and silencers from falling into the hands of criminals who use them to perpetrate violence in our communities and fuel criminal activities.”
Joshua Levy, Acting US Attorney for Massachusetts, stated in a release that “the seizure of these domains is a critical step in stopping the flow of dangerous contraband that threatens public safety.”
In addition to uncovering the 355 websites, the investigation also seized over 700 devices used to convert firearms into machine guns, 59 handguns, and 36 long guns, as per the statement from the Massachusetts US Attorney’s Office.