SUNGAI PETANI: Police seized a firearm and explosive devices after arresting four suspects in connection with a heist at a fishing equipment shop in Jalan Lencongan Barat here on Sunday.
Kuala Muda police chief Assistant Commissioner Wan Azharuddin Wan Ismail said two of the suspects, one of them a civil servant, had escaped with cash and fishing gear amounting to RM26,000 during the robbery.
"We received a distress call at 11.27am from a woman reporting an armed robbery at a fishing equipment shop.
"Within four hours, we arrested four men, aged between 32 and 52, in Kampung Teluk Wang Besar.
"We seized an assortment of fishing equipment, cash and drugs believed to be cannabis weighing 70.31 grams from the suspects," he said in a press conference at his office today.
Azharuddin said two of the four suspects are believed to be involved in the fishing gear shop robbery, while the other two were not involved.
However, they were detained after testing positive for drugs.
He said in a follow-up operation on Monday, police raided a car workshop in the same area, where they found a revolver-type firearm and three explosive devices.
"Based on investigations, it was established that the firearm, without ammunition, belonged to one of the suspects who is believed to be the group leader.
"It was learnt that he had acquired the weapon from a neighbouring country in 2008," he said.
Azharuddin said police are hot on the heels of another suspect in his 30s, who is believed to be involved in the robbery.
Police have obtained a week-long remand order against the suspects from Monday.