KUALA LUMPUR: Almost 1,500 imitation firearms, worth nearly RM900,000, have been taken off the streets following a nationwide crackdown by federal police.
The operations began in the middle of last month with the seizure of 669 imitation firearms and the arrest of three people.
It ended yesterday with another 810 imitation firearms confiscated and 13 more suspects in custody after raids in six states.
Investigators said the suspects sold these imitation firearms, popularly known as "gel blasters", on social media and in physical shops.
Bukit Aman believes a single supplier is bringing the gel blasters into the country and is identifying the distribution network to put a stop to it.
Federal Internal Security and Public Order Department director Datuk Seri Azmi Abu Kassim said the operations were conducted by the Wildlife Crime Bureau/Special Intelligence Investigation (WCB/PSK) between Jan 2 and Jan 5.
"We conducted raids in Bangi and Shah Alam in Selangor; Jalan Raja Laut in Kuala Lumpur; Baling, Kulim and Alor Star in Kedah, Kemaman; and Kerteh in Terengganu; Kuantan in Pahang; and Batu Pahat in Johor following intelligence and information gathered.
"These raids led to the seizure of 810 imitation firearms, which resembled sniper and assault rifles, and submachine guns. The value of the items is RM450,432.
"Combined with the raids in Kota Baru and Kuala Lumpur in December, where 669 imitation firearms worth RM436,000 were seized, a total of 1,479 imitation firearms worth RM886,432 have been seized," he told the New Straits Times.
He said police arrested 12 Malaysians and a foreigner in the operation. These suspects were premises owners and stockkeepers who managed the sale and distribution of the items to customers in Malaysia.
"Among the imitation firearms seized are M4, AR15, ARP9 and PDX assault rifles, and a Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine gun, a model used by the police.
"Also seized was an imitation Barrett M82 sniper rifle which is about 130cm long," he said, adding that the suspects were aged between 25 and 58, and had no criminal record.
"The items and suspects have been handed over to the state police headquarters for action.
"Our investigations revealed that these suspects received these imitation weapons from one supplier.
"We have identified this individual and are making efforts to cripple their operations," he said.
Azmi said police did not want any of these so-called toys falling into the wrong hands, as they could be used to commit crimes like robbery and criminal intimidation.
He said buying these items was an offence under Section 36 of the Arms Act 1960.
"The operation should be a message to all that we take this matter seriously and will not allow these so-called toys to be distributed in our country," he said.
Senior Assistant Commissioner Mohammad Azlin Sadari, who leads the WCB/PSK, advised those who had these weapons to destroy them.
"We have records of bank transactions and addresses of where these items were shipped to.
"Destroy them now or you might find our team knocking on your door," he said.
Yesterday, the NST reported that federal police have begun a crackdown on gel blasters.
Last month, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said 148 crimes committed using imitation weapons were reported in 2023, most of them robberies. He said 36 cases were recorded between January and November last year.
Razarudin had said some e-commerce platforms allowed the sale of these illegal toys.
He called on other agencies, including the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry and the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission, to help police curb the sale of these items.