IGP: Police identifying masterminds behind firearms smuggling

 

The police are in the midst of identifying a "certain group of people" behind the smuggling of firearms into the country.
This follows the seizure of a large cache of firearms in the country over the past two weeks.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the police viewed the matter seriously, especially the recent spate of shooting cases.

 "In this regard, intelligence is being stepped up while security has been tightened at smuggling haunts," he told reporters after a media conference on the 2013 Warriors' Day celebration here Monday.

 "We are closing in on a certain group of people. We are doing that right now. We are also identifying people who are responsible in bringing in guns into the country," he said.
Khalid said the police did not rule out the possibility of the firearms coming from a neighbouring country.

 In KOTA BARU, the police detained three men in connection with the seizure of two pistols and eight sharp weapons Monday night, in three raids here and Pasir Mas.
Kelantan police deputy chief Datuk Mazlan Lazim said in the first raid at 11pm, a 29-year-old suspect was picked up at a petrol station in Jalan Baung, Pengkalan Chepa here.

 "Upon questioning, the police seized a samurai sword, two machetes and a foldable knife hidden in a bag behind the driver's seat of a car," he said at a media conference here Monday.
He said the suspect led the police to another man, aged 21, in Kampung Baung, Pengkalan Chepa where a pistol loaded with five bullets, machete and a knife were seized.

In a separate case in Pasir Mas, Mazlan said the police nabbed a 49-year-old man at foodstall and seized an imitation gun and an empty magazine.

 In KUANTAN, three men linked to robbery and drug trafficking cases were nabbed at a restaurant last Saturday, in Pekan Sri Jaya near Maran.

In the incident, the police seized a .38 Smith & Wesson pistol loaded with four bullets, while another bullet was found in the front passenger seat of a car.
Pahang police chief Datuk Sharifuddin Ab Ghani said in the 12.05am raid, the police also found RM2,000 in the vehicle.

 "One of the suspects tried to put up a struggle when approached by the police. However, they were overpowered and taken into custody," he told reporters here today.
Later, a suspect led the police to the seizure of three fake guns in a bedroom of a house in Kampung Sri Jaya, Maran.