The National Police Agency, Korea Customs Service, and National Intelligence Service formed the ‘Joint Response Team for Preventing Homemade Gun Distribution’ last September to eradicate illegal gun manufacturing and distribution. The team has been investigating high-risk individuals involved in illegal gun manufacturing and distribution, and has referred 19 individuals (2 detained) for prosecution, seizing 3 illegal guns and 338 imitation firearms to preemptively remove social anxiety factors.
The Joint Response Team was established to prevent incidents that threaten innocent citizens’ lives, such as the ‘Incheon Songdo Homemade Gun Murder Case’ that occurred last July. The team has been working to effectively block illegal gun manufacturing and distribution through information sharing and investigations among related agencies. Particularly, the Korea Customs Service and National Intelligence Service have meticulously analyzed customs records and terror intelligence related to firearms, parts, and tools purchased overseas to identify ‘high-risk individuals’ who might have actually manufactured guns out of curiosity and referred them to the police for investigation.
The police swiftly conducted investigations and recently referred 19 individuals, including 2 detained, for prosecution. During the investigation, they seized 3 guns, 338 imitation firearms, 272 scopes, and various gun parts, swords, and explosives, which were either sent to the prosecution or disposed of. Additionally, the Joint Response Team announced that they would continue to share and analyze relevant information among departments to conduct further investigations on high-risk individuals and simultaneously improve systems to effectively block homemade gun manufacturing and distribution.
The Korea Customs Service plans to thoroughly block smuggling at the entry point by strengthening X-ray inspections on firearms and related parts regulated under the ‘Gunpowder Act.’ For items not regulated but suspected of being used for gun manufacturing, they will form a dedicated information analysis team to meticulously analyze import records and cooperate with the police to preemptively block hazardous elements. Meanwhile, the National Police Agency focuses on cracking down on illegal weapons domestically and requesting the deletion and blocking of illegal online posts related to gun manufacturing to prevent the public from being tempted into crime out of curiosity.