Perlis Police Chief Datuk Muhammad Abdul Halim displays seized firearms during a press conference announcing the dismantling of an international firearms smuggling syndicate. Photo: The Star Malaysian police have successfully dismantled an international firearms smuggling network operating across the northern states of Perlis, Perak, and Kedah, announcing the arrest of eight suspects and seizure of weapons valued at RM360,000. The coordinated crackdown, completed on July 24, targeted a syndicate believed to have smuggled firearms from a neighbouring country for distribution across northern Peninsular Malaysia. Seven-Year Criminal Enterprise Dismantled The firearms smuggling network had been active since 2019, operating across multiple locations in the northern region. The breakthrough came on July 1 when police in Perak's Criminal Investigation Department arrested a suspect in Sitiawan, setting off a chain of discoveries that led to systematic raids across the three states. Eight individuals—including a civil servant and a woman—aged between 30 and 60 were arrested during operations conducted between July 1 and 20. Three suspects have already been charged in court, while five remain under investigation. Significant Arsenal Recovered The police operation recovered a substantial stockpile of weapons and ammunition, demonstrating the scope of the smuggling operation. Officers seized eight firearms, 21 Airsoft guns, and one homemade air rifle from various storage locations used by the syndicate. The firearms arsenal included three 9mm calibre pistols, two shotguns, and three .22 calibre rifles. Beyond firearms, police recovered hundreds of rounds of live ammunition in various calibres, nearly 9,000 bullet casings, and multiple firearm components and accessories. The weapons were stored across several different locations to avoid detection by authorities. Coordinated Regional Enforcement The crackdown required cooperation between police contingents across three states. Raids were conducted in Beseri near Padang Besar, Kangar, Kuala Perlis, and Lunas in Kulim, Kedah. This coordinated approach proved essential to disrupting the entire smuggling network. Perlis Police Chief Datuk Muhammad Abdul Halim emphasized the intelligence-sharing that made the operation successful. "The intelligence cooperation between the CID teams of the Perlis, Perak, and Kedah contingents successfully identified the network and dismantled their entire operation," he said during a press conference at the Perlis Police Headquarters on Friday. Cross-Border Smuggling Route Investigations indicate that firearms were smuggled from a neighbouring country before being distributed to networks operating in northern Peninsular Malaysia. The syndicate employed sophisticated methods to conceal weapons and ammunition, splitting their stockpile across multiple locations to minimize the risk of total loss in law enforcement raids. Border Security Priority Police have renewed commitment to strengthening border security measures to prevent further illegal firearms entry into Malaysia. Muhammad said police will continue intensive enforcement operations and urged the public to provide information about any illegal possession or use of firearms. "We will not compromise with any individual or group attempting to turn this country into a transit point or distribution hub for illegal firearms," he stated, signalling zero tolerance for arms-related crimes. Investigation Status The seized firearms and ammunition are being examined as evidence in ongoing investigations. Three suspects face charges under Section 7 and Section 8 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971, and Section 8(a) and Section 36 of the Arms Act 1960. The remaining five suspects are undergoing further investigation to establish their roles in the smuggling operation and identify potential additional suspects. 25 July 2026
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