ALOR STAR: A toy shop operator pleaded ignorance of the law when police raided his premises and discovered an assortment of imitation firearms, or "gel blaster" guns, including replicas of AK-47 assault rifles and M4 carbines, on Sunday.
The man, in his late 20s, had been raking in profits from selling the prohibited items since November last year, using TikTok livestreams to promote them to his followers.
Despite claiming he was unaware of the illegality, police told him that multiple warnings to his TikTok account were made, cautioning him about the offence.
These warnings, however, went unheeded as his online sales had continued uninterrupted.
The raid, part of the nationwide operations, was conducted by a specialised task force targeting the illegal distribution of imitation firearms.
According to sources, the operation followed surveillance after the suspect's TikTok videos showcasing the weapons drew the attention of law enforcement.
In one of his livestreams, the man boasted about the "realistic features" of the imitation guns, even going so far as to test-fire them on camera.
Police believe the tactic was aimed at attracting a niche audience willing to pay a premium for the items.
When police raided his shop, the suspect appeared visibly distressed, clutching his head as the items were seized.
Unable to handle the pressure, he begged them to let him have a cigarette outside the shop to "relax and think clearly".
The shop owner, who has been in business for over 10 years, confessed that imitation firearms were among his best-selling items, with adult men being his primary customers.
"The profits were too good to ignore. The cheapest ones, like small pistols, sell for RM50, while the most expensive, realistic-looking AK-47 replicas, go for RM429.
"It's mostly adult men who buy these. Of course, children like them too, but they usually go for the cheaper ones. However, I thought there was nothing wrong with selling these items... they're just toys," he said during the raid in Mergong.
Authorities were unimpressed with his plea of ignorance, reminding him that such a defence holds no weight in law.
They stressed that the possession and sale of imitation firearms were serious offences under the Arms Act 1960.
During the raid, police seized 46 sets of imitation guns, valued at RM10,262.
The case is being investigated under Section 36 of the Arms Act, which carries a maximum jail term of one year, a fine of RM5,000, or both, upon conviction.
Meanwhile, in a separate raid in Baling, police seized 137 imitation firearms worth RM91,630 from two adjacent shops in Taman Desa Seroja.
Police detained two men — a 39-year-old shop owner and his 34-year-old employee — in connection with the case.