Foreigners behind firearm smuggling into Kelantan: Police

TANAH MERAH: Foreigners are believed to have masterminded the smuggling of firearms into Kelantan via illegal jetties along Sungai Golok bordering Malaysia and Thailand, according to state police chief Datuk Hasanuddin Hassan.
He said the police had detained nine suspects who were linked to firearm smuggling and seized eight firearms between January and early this month.
"Seven of the suspects were found to be citizens of a neighbouring country while the rest were locals," he told reporters after opening the 45th Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Dato' Mahmud Paduka Raja 1 Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meeting, here today.
Hasanuddin said the modus operandi of the nine suspects was to smuggle firearm components separately and later have them re-assembled in the state.
"They are likely to have brought in the firearms due to high demand to commit various crimes in the state, be they drug-related or robbery, among others," he said, adding that the existence of illegal jetties along the Sungai Golok was among the reasons which fuelled smuggling activities.
Last year, the police thwarted firearm smuggling attempts and seized seven firearms, he added. — Bernama