KOTA BARU: Kelantan police are worried about the smuggling of firearms from Thailand.
State police chief Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun said recent cases indicated that drug pushers were smuggling firearms from Thailand into Kelantan.
He said police had seized 18 smuggled firearms since last year.
"Although the cases and the number of firearms seized are small, it is concerning.
"We seized 18 firearms during anti-drug operations.
"In almost all drug operations, we will seize firearms," he said after the state police headquarters monthly gathering here today.
He said a recent statement by Thai police proved that both authorities were doing their best to combat firearms smuggling along the border.
"We will continue the good cooperation between us."
Recently, Thai police said two types of firearms — the Glock and .38 revolver — were the most sought after by criminals in the Sungai Golok sub-province and Malaysia.
Sungai Golok police chief Colonel Pratya Baite had said the guns were smuggled from abroad and mostly used by those involved in drug smuggling.
He said the guns were not from Thailand and were smuggled in by local criminals, adding that some of the firearms were obtained from dealers in the southern areas outside Bangkok.
Sungai Golok police had arrested suspects found with guns. The suspects had confessed that the weapons would be sent to buyers in Malaysia, especially Kelantan.
Revolvers and glocks are smuggled out of Sungai Golok via illegal jetties bordering Kelantan.
Arms smugglers often change their smuggling modus operandi.
Pratya said the guns cost up to 10,000 baht (RM1,200) each in Thailand.