Federal Operation Seizes Over 42,800 Firearm Silencers Smuggled From China

A visitor pulls the slide of a pistol with a silencer at a gun displays at a National Rifle Association outdoor sports trade show in Harrisburg, Pa., on Feb. 10, 2017. Dominick Reuter/AFP via Getty Images

A federal effort dubbed Operation Silent Night has seized 42,888 firearm silencers illegally smuggled into the United States from China, according to a report released by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The report (pdf) states that a total of 4,868 firearms were also confiscated and 204 criminals were arrested as of March. The operation was launched in 2019 to keep dangerous weapon components off the streets.