Police in Yunlin County arrested a man after a search of his workshop uncovered guns disguised as everyday objects such as trekking poles and ballpoint pens.
Yunlin District Prosecutor’s Office issued a press release today saying they ordered an investigation into a 58-year-old suspect named Chen on suspicion that he was involved in manufacturing illegal weapons.
Police from Taichung City and Dounan Township conducted a search of a ironworks factory owned by Chen on September 1. The search uncovered a sniper air rifle, one finished pen gun, a finished gun made out of a trekking pole, and several semi-finished guns, five gun barrels, bullets of various caliber, parts, drawings, notebooks, and tools for making guns and bullets.
Chen, who has previous criminal records for drugs and firearms offences, admitted to manufacturing the guns, but claimed that is was just his personal hobby, and that he made them for fun, and not to hurt anyone.
Investigators said that Chen was highly-skilled in metalwork, and likened him to a “007 agent.”
Prosecutors applied for a detention order, which was granted by the District Court. The District Prosecutor vowed to make every effort to crack down on major crimes involving gangs, money laundering, guns, drugs, and fraud.
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