KUANTAN: Over the past six months, a toy seller here had enjoyed brisk business selling imitation firearms out of his home.
That all came crashing down when police got wind of his operations and conducted a sting by posing as buyers and visiting his home.
The 36-year-old man was arrested on Thursday night following simultaneous raids here, as well as in Selangor by the federal police Wildlife Crime Bureau/Special Investigations and Intelligence (WCB/PSK).
The man was surprised when a "customer" who appeared at his home in Jalan Kuantan-Pekan turned out to be a police officer leading a raiding party.
The team seized a vast array of "gel blasters" resembling actual rifles and submachine guns.
The items, stored in boxes in his home, had just arrived from a supplier in the Klang Valley.
A source said the suspect was openly selling the toys on TikTok. They included imitation firearms which resembled Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine guns.
They also found an authentic-looking Barrett M82 sniper rifle.
These imitation firearms were sold for between RM100 and RM450, depending on the "brand". The suspect said he could earn up to RM4,000 a month selling the toys.
Investigations showed that the suspect took orders from customers from all over the country through social media.
Customers would transfer the payment to him, after which he would deliver their orders via courier.
The raid led to the seizure of 47 imitation firearms worth at least RM12,000.
It is learnt that a huge demand for the imitation firearms had led to the seller placing more orders for the items.
Checks showed that prior to the raid, more than three dozen imitation firearms had arrived at the suspect's house.
The suspect will be remanded for investigations under Section 36 of the Arms Act 1960 for possessing, selling, buying, and distributing the imitation items without proper authorisation.