SIBU: Sixty-five 'toy' guns, of various types, in what was described as the biggest haul of such dangerous weapons in Sarawak, were seized by the Sibu Police.
The 65 pieces of firearms, though they are supposedly meant to be toy guns, were as deadly as the real ones as they have pellets that can hurt and even kill the live targets when shot at.
Consisting of revolvers, automatic and semi-automatic machine guns, riffles, pistols, shot guns and air guns, the fake weapons were seized from a couple's house here.
Director of Investigation Department, Bukit Aman, Datuk Mohamad Bakri bin Mohd Zinin, who was here yesterday to check on the smooth implementation of the 'Ops Cantas Kenyalang' said the seizure of the dangerous items was an excellent example of good cooperation between the police and members of the public.
"This is an excellent example of good cooperation between members of the public and the local police force. We need your help to inform us any suspicious activities in our midst.
"Otherwise many incriminating activities may go on unnoticed," he said.
Bakri said the couple, in their thirties had been detained, interrogated and released on police bail, recently. They might face the wrath of the law, as they could have committed an offence provided for under the Fire Arms Act. The investigation was completed and a court order is pending.
"This is a serious offence and we cannot tolerate it. One must have a licence to own guns. So much so, one must have a permit to import these firearms," he elaborated.
According to police records, the couples 'visible' occupation is  contractor. The wife, according to Bakri, was believed to have been involved, since she obstructed the police during the raid. The couple had kept all the firearms in their house.
The police believe that the guns were imported from China and Taiwan and that they would be sold into the market as 'toy' guns. The couple did not have the required import permit for firearms.
"It is illegal to own a gun without a licence and it is equally illegal to import such dangerous items without a permit," he stressed.
Asked on the overall status of gangsterism in Sarawak, he said most of the suspects were arrested.
"So far, we have identified 53 suspects throughout the state of Sarawak. Forty-three have already been arrested and 10 more are still at large. But we know where they went and it's just a matter of time that we will catch up with them," he said, adding that the Police had just arrested two recently.
Out of the number twenty, thugs or gangsters were from Sibu, while five of the loose ones are believed to be still in Sibu.
On illegal logging, Bakri believed that the criminal activity was still rampant. He said the police would continue to work with the relevant authorities to minimize the menace.
In the half-hour press conference at the Sibu Police Headquarters, police chiefs from Sarikei, Kanowit, Song, Kapit and Mukah were in attendance.