1. Substantive results from the 6-stage crackdown in 2011~2012

The “Crackdown on Illegal Firearms” action plan entered into force as of January 1, 2011, and 6 stages of nationwide, synchronized crackdowns on illegal firearms and mafia were planned, taking place on January 20 and 21, April 7 and 8, June 28 and 29, September 1 and 2, November 9 and 10 of 2011, as well as January 4 and 5 of 2012 to enormous effect. From January 1, 2011 to January 4, 2012 under the action plan, the various judicial and police authorities (including the National Police Agency, Coast Guard Administration, Bureau of Investigation and Military Police Command) uncovered a total of 1,834 cases involving firearms, with 1,776 suspects, 2,187 firearms of various types (including 598 standard firearms and 1,589 home-made/modified firearms) and 20,483 bullets.

2. Marked decrease in the number of offenses involving firearms in 2011, demonstrating the effectiveness of the crackdown

According to statistics compiled by the National Police Administration, the authorities had seized 1,638 illegal firearms in 2011, which was 134 (8.91%) more in comparison to the 1,504 illegal firearms seized in the previous year.  In 2011 there were 193 criminal cases involving firearms, a reduction by 27 cases (-12.27%) in comparison to 220 cases in the previous year. There were 91 shooting cases in 2011, a reduction of 17 cases (-15.74%) in comparison to 108 cases in the previous year.  In addition, 301 persons were arrested under the “Peace Project Crackdown Targets”, with 2,712 underlings and accomplices, representing an increase of 47 persons (+18.50%) and 309 underlings/accomplices (+12.86%) in comparison to 254 persons and 2,403 underlings/accomplices arrested last year.  These statistics demonstrate that the crackdown on illegal firearms action plan has indeed been highly effective. Nonetheless, law enforcement authorities must continue their investigations and prosecutions, in the hope of further reducing the number of incidents involving illegal firearms and to increase their clearance rates.