KUALA LUMPUR: Federal police have begun a nationwide crackdown on authentic-looking toy guns and rifles popularly known as "gel blasters".
Bukit Aman is concerned that these fake firearms, which look almost identical to real ones, could be used to commit crimes.
The Internal Security and Public Order Department's Wildlife Crime Bureau/Special Investigations and Intelligence (WCB/PSK), tasked with taking these "toys" off the streets, got a big break last month with the arrests of three men and seizure of 637 imitation firearms following raids in Jalan Raja Laut here and in Kota Baru, Kelantan.
The nationwide raids had continued following investigations and intelligence-gathering by the authorities.
Federal Internal Security and Public Order Department director Datuk Seri Azmi Abu Kassim said three raids were carried out on Jan 2 and 4, which led to the seizure of 240 imitation firearms worth at least RM113,850.
"Our teams also arrested four men aged between 32 and 40, including a foreigner, during the raids.
"One of raids in Little Bangi on Jan 2 saw the arrests of two men aged 32 and 40, which led to the seizure of RM59,850 worth of imitation firearms.
"These firearms resembled M4, AR15, ARP9 and PDX assault rifles and a Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine gun, which is used by the police.
"On that same day, police also raided a house in Jalan Kuantan-Pekan in Pahang.
"They arrested a 34-year-old man and seized 47 imitation firearms," he said.
The suspect, he said, was promoting the goods via social media and selling them online.
Police seized RM14,000 worth of imitation firearms including several which resembled AK-47 assault rifles.
"Also seized was an imitation Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine gun as well as a Barrett M82 sniper rifle.
"Two days later, another team from WCB/PSK raided a toy shop along Jalan Raja Laut and seized 88 imitation firearms worth at least RM40,000.
"A 35-year-old foreign man was also arrested during the raid," he said, adding that among the seizures included imitation firearms resembling the FN SCAR and Heckler & Koch G36 assault rifles, as well as FN P90 submachine guns.
Sources revealed that the foreigner was employed as a stockist for the illegal goods and was also managing the store's sales.
The imitation firearms were sold in-store as well as online.
Azmi said the cases were classified under Section 36 of the Arms Act 1960, which carried a maximum one-year imprisonment or a RM5,000 fine or both upon conviction.
"Our advice is simple: do not buy, sell, distribute or keep these imitation firearms in your possession.
"These operations will be continued to deter the widespread sale and distribution of such items," he said.
Police yesterday also mounted simultaneous raids in Kedah, Terengganu, Selangor and Johor.
Last month, the New Straits Times quoted Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain as saying that there were 148 cases involving the use of toy guns in crimes reported in 2023, the majority of which were robberies.
He had said 36 more cases were recorded between January and November last year.
Razarudin had said a number of e-commerce platforms allowed the sale of these illegal toys.
He called on other agencies, including the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry and the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), to help police curb the sale of such items.