Perlis border smugglers use fish trucks, vegetable lorries to sneak in guns

New Straits Times

19-05-2025

KANGAR: Smugglers are employing various tactics to bring firearms into the country, including using vegetable lorries, fish trucks, and shipping containers.
They have also been found to use cargo services, trains, and sea routes, as well as enlisting the help of undocumented migrants and sneaking through illegal crossing points along the Malaysia-Thailand border.
According to arrests and seizures made by authorities at the state's border, firearms are often smuggled alongside drugs.
Perlis Police Chief Datuk Muhammad Abdul Halim said interrogations of several suspects previously detained had revealed that most of the confiscated firearms were believed to be intended for personal use in criminal activities.
"Most of the firearms are believed to be smuggled through official border checkpoints and illegal routes, whether by land or sea, along the Perlis-Thailand border," he told Utusan Malaysia.
Based on statistics from 2022 until last year, authorities have thwarted five cases of firearm smuggling through the state border.
It was previously reported that a total of 201 genuine firearms were seized by the police between 2022 and January this year.
Muhammad said all firearm seizure cases in the state involved semi-automatic pistols, homemade pistols with accompanying ammunition, and incomplete rifles such as the AR15 and M16, along with components and various types of bullets.
"At present, firearm smuggling cases along the Perlis border remain under control," he said.
To strengthen security measures, particularly concerning the smuggling of firearms and drugs, he said a special border task force has been established.
In addition, he said, intelligence gathering related to firearm smuggling is being continuously enhanced to ensure the safety of the public and the nation.
"This special team was set up by the district police chief in collaboration with a special unit from the Perlis state police headquarters," he added.
He stressed that continuous enforcement, as well as strengthened intelligence efforts by various agencies, are necessary to curb crimes involving firearms.
Investigations into firearm smuggling cases may be carried out under Section 8 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1972 and Section 8(a) of the Arms Act 1960.
"Those found guilty under these provisions may face imprisonment of up to 14 years and not fewer than six strokes of the cane," he said.