Self-taught Gunsmith Arrested for Firearms and Drugs

A man in Pingtung was arrested after a police raid on his home firearms workshop in the early hours of the morning November 12. Although the raid occurred several days ago, media reports appeared today, November 15, the day after a man in Pingtung City was shot down on the street in broad daylight.

Criminal investigation officers held the 45 year-old suspect under surveillance for several days before raiding his residence while he was asleep. Officers wanted to avoid a gunfight with the suspect, a man named Chen, who has a criminal record including firearms and drugs offences.

Evidence confiscated included a Taurus pistol modified to fire real bullets and three other handguns in the process of modification. Gun parts, bullets, tools, and bags containing traces of heroin and amphetamines were also found.

Chen claimed to be ignorant about the source of the weapons or their eventual destination, and told police he had taught himself the techniques of weapons modification and that it was just a hobby.

Two firearm modification operations were uncovered by police in Taiwan last week, one in Tainan, and one in Chiayi. Both involved Taurus model pistols.

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