MELAKA: Police have seized 351 toy pistols resembling real firearms with the sales targeting schoolchildren.
State police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar said police uncovered the sale of the imitation firearms following a raid at a business premises in Taman Teknologi Cheng here.
"These toy guns were purchased from a neighbouring country at a price of RM20 to RM30 each and resold for as much as RM300, bringing the estimated total value of the seizure to RM105,300,” he told a press conference at the Melaka Tengah police headquarters on Wednesday (July 16).
DCP Dzulkhairi said initial investigations revealed that there were cases where school teachers found these toy guns in the school bags of students.
"When questioned, some of them gave excuses that the toy guns were used to shoot lizards," he said.
DCP Dzulkhairi said police also confiscated two boxes of plastic pellets stored in the back of the premises.
"The operator did not possess a valid licence or permit to import the imitation weapons.
"We detained a 42-year-old man, believed to be the caretaker of the premises, during the raid.
"Checks showed sales were made both online and via walk-in at the premises that also sold other types of toys,” he added.
The case is being investigated under Section 36 of the Arms Act 1960, which carries a penalty of up to one year in prison, a maximum fine of RM5,000, or both, upon conviction.
