KOTA KINABALU: Police seized 42 air rifles and 456 small boxes of pellets, and arrested an oil palm smallholder in a hut in Sook, Keningau, yesterday.
Keningau police chief Supt Erwansyah Abdul Basir said the 50-year-old man was arrested during Op Laras after failing to produce a valid licence or permit for the weapons.
"Initial investigations revealed that the suspect is believed to have been selling air rifles in Keningau for between RM350 and RM500 each.
"The pellets were believed to have been sold for between RM30 and RM50 per pack, with each pack containing 10 small boxes. Police also seized five camouflage-patterned gun bags," he said in a statement today.
Erwansyah said police were investigating the source of the weapons and whether the supply network extended overseas.
The case is being investigated under Section 8(a) of the Firearms Act 1960 for possession of unlicensed weapons. Police are also considering whether Section 7 of the Firearms (Penalties) Act 1971, which deals with firearms trafficking, applies.
He said police viewed the possession and sale of unlicensed weapons as a serious threat to public security and urged anyone with information to contact the police. – BERNAMA
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