KEPALA BATAS: Police scored a major success in their crackdown against illegal fireworks and firecrackers sales ahead of the Chinese New Year celebrations
This was after they seized nearly RM100,000 worth of the pyrotechnics in two separate raids, near, here.
Two traders were arrested on suspicion of selling fireworks and firecrackers without permit at two separate locations in Butterworth here midnight yesterday.
In the 12.35am incident, the traders, aged 25 and 35 respectively, were nabbed during raids at Raja Uda and Bagan Ajam, near Butterworth.
Seberang Prai Utara district police chief Assistant Commissioner Noorzainy Mohd Noor said initial investigations revealed both the suspects were selling the contrabands in and around Butterworth and the Mak Mandin area.
“In the first raid, we seized nearly RM50,000 worth of fireworks at a house in Jalan Raja Uda, used as a storage area.
A second raid at a shop house later in Bagan Ajam, we managed to seize firecrackers worth nearly RM50,000 as well.
“Both suspects admitted that they obtained the stocks from Thailand two months ago.
“Both had been remanded until tomorrow to assist investigations under Section 8 of the Explosives Act 1957,” he told reporters today.
Meanwhile in a separate case, Noorzainy said a former police volunteer personnel was nabbed on suspicion of disguising as an enforcement personnel for the purpose of extortion.
The suspect was picked up at Persiaran Perindustrian Bertam Perdana here on Friday.
He said the 35-year-old was riding a stolen motorcycle when he stopped to extort a foreigner, who was riding a motorcycle without license.
“The suspect had introduced himself as police and had asked for RM1,000 to free the foreigner. The victim claimed he did not have such a huge amount of money.
“The suspect then asked the victim to borrow money from his friends and brought him to a few locations before finally leaving him in Bertam Lake House.
“The victim then related his ordeal to a police personnel from the motorcycle patrol unit, who was patrolling the area at that time,” he said, adding that the case is investigated under Section 384 of the Penal Code.
Noorzainy said the suspect was suspended two years ago after he was involved in drugs.
“We believe this is not the only incident and there may be more. We urged the other victims to come forward to lodge report,” he added.