MELAKA: Police have arrested a 42-year-old man after uncovering a rented house in Taman Tanjung Minyak here that was allegedly used as a workshop to repair and modify air rifles and firearms.
Melaka police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar said the suspect was detained during a raid at the premises at about 12.30am on Monday (March 16).
He said checks at the house led to the seizure of a Sig Sauer pistol, six air rifle barrels with components, 100 rounds of 9mm blank cartridges and three walkie-talkie sets.
Police also seized six black rifle barrel bags, a box containing various weapon components and several tools such as a drill, measuring instruments and metal files believed to have been used to repair and modify the weapons.
“The suspect is believed to have used the premises as a workshop to repair and modify the firearms before selling them to customers nationwide,” he said in a statement on Monday.
DCP Dzulkhairi said preliminary investigations revealed the suspect would buy air rifles for about RM1,500, modify them and resell them at between RM3,000 and RM3,500 per unit.
He said the suspect was believed to have learnt the skills to repair and modify the weapons through YouTube.
DCP Dzulkhairi said checks showed the man had a criminal record with offences including housebreaking, criminal intimidation, weapons-related offences and drugs, and had also been detained in 2022 for possessing an imitation firearm.
A urine test conducted on the suspect also found him positive for methamphetamine.
The suspect has been remanded for seven days starting Monday to assist investigations.
The case is being investigated under Section 8 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971, Section 8(A) of the Arms Act 1960, Section 36(1) of the Arms Act 1960 and Section 15(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
