KUALA LUMPUR: With just an Internet connection and RM150, criminals can buy imitation guns — marketed as toys, but are identical to real firearms — to commit crimes.
Last year, nearly 150 crimes were committed using these imitation firearms known as gel-blaster guns.
Checks by the New Straits Times over the past two months found these gel-blaster guns being sold on e-commerce platforms and even on TikTok via live sessions.
Interest in these live sessions is growing, with some drawing thousands of viewers.
In these live sessions, sellers showcase the products, demonstrating their functions and features to attract potential buyers.
Some even offer promotional deals and package bundles to entice customers.
Gel blasters are sold in various grades, from toy-grade models to more sophisticated hobby-grade replicas.
Toy-grade gel blasters, meanwhile, are simple and less realistic, while hobby-grade models boast life-like features, including semi-automatic firing capabilities and metal components.
These high-performance models can be customised with accessories, such as tactical grips, suppressors and high-capacity magazines.
Despite being more expensive, hobby-grade models, in particular, have garnered significant attention from collectors and hobbyists.
The price range for these imitation firearms starts at RM150 for basic models and goes up to RM2,000 for highly detailed replicas.
These detailed replicas, one seller said, could even weigh the same as the real firearms.
Another seller revealed interesting insights into consumer preferences, noting that the current trends favour rifles compared with handguns.
These rifles, often styled after military-grade weapons, are seen as more appealing due to their enhanced features and perceived value for money.
The lower-end models are often marketed as toys suitable for casual users, while the higher-end hobby-grade versions cater to serious enthusiasts who seek realism and performance.
Additionally, hobby-grade gel blasters can cause injury, as they use a hardened version of gel bullets that withstand a high firing rate of up to 82 metres per second. 270 feet per second.
Beyond the digital realm, the NST learnt of several brick-and-mortar stores across Klang Valley selling imitation firearms.
The physical stores also are hidden in plain sight, where they sell other toys aside from the blasters.
Checks showed that most sellers are either unaware of or do not care that selling imitation firearms is illegal as long as it is profitable.
The Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 strictly regulates the possession and sale of items resembling real firearms, classifying them as prohibited.
However, enforcement challenges and the anonymity offered by online platforms have allowed the trade to flourish.
Many sellers are also discreet in their operations, often reminding customers in live sessions not to carry gel blasters around in public.
This caution stems from their awareness of the legal implications and the potential for panic or misunderstanding if these lifelike replicas are seen in public spaces.
Sellers emphasise that the items should be used responsibly and primarily within private or controlled environments.
Peninsular Malaysia-based sellers are also cautious about shipping these items to Sarawak and Sabah.
It is understood that the items might be detected during security checks before being loaded onto cargo flights, which could lead to confiscation or legal repercussions.