BEIJING, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese police have confiscated 19,000 guns and close to 500 tonnes of explosives in a crackdown on explosive and gun-related crimes in the last four months, the Ministry of Public Security announced here Monday.

    More than 5,200 people in connection with illegal production and sales of explosives and gun-related crimes were arrested during the campaign, which started in March and ends on Oct. 31, the ministry said on its Website.

    The crackdown on explosives and guns is part of a campaign aimed to retain China's social stability for its National Day celebration on Oct. 1, said Guo Bei, a director with the Public Security Ministry. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

    Police also confiscated close to 1.47 million detonators, 800,000 bullets and 39,000 imitation guns.

    Some of the imitation guns cannot shoot bullets of any kind, but others can hurt people if shot at close ranges, according to Guo.

    Possession of guns is illegal in China. According to the country's Law on Control of Guns, manufacturing and sales of imitation guns is also forbidden. Violators can be detained for a maximum of 15 days and face harsher punishment if their products lead to casualties.

    Even guns that cannot shoot any kind of bullets are also banned in China, said Guo.

    According to Guo, the stability campaign also included a nationwide campaign against the trafficking of children and women which started in early April and will run through this year.

    Police have rescued 829 children and 1,403 women and broke 335 human trafficking rings from April 9 to July 6. A total of 2,417 people involved in human trafficking were detained, the ministry said.