KOTA BARU: Kelantan police have arrested five men on the possession of a gun, bullets and stolen vehicles in three separate raids in Tanah Merah yesterday.
Kelantan police chief Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun said during the raids, police also seized a pistol, a parang and 13 bullets.
He said also seized were four motorcycles, a car and an engine.
"A police team earlier raided a house in Kampung Pohon Gelugor about 4am where they detained two of the five men.
"In the follow-up operation at another house at Kampung Bukit Panau, they detained two more men.
"The four suspects were believed to be involved in motorcycle theft. Police also seized the equipment believed to be used in the activities," he told a Press conference here today.
Zaki said the fifth suspect was nabbed at Jalan Chetok and police seized the pistol and the bullets from him.
He said the five suspects, aged between 21 and 29, have been remanded to assist police investigations into the case.
"Police believe that they were from the same group and have been involved in the activities for some time.
"Police also seized some methamphetamine pills from one of them," he added.
On another note, Zaki said police have detained a 34-year-old labourer and seized a pistol with 26 bullets in an operation in Pasir Mas.
He added the suspect was arrested at Lubok Jong on Nov 2.
"Police suspect the man who has three previous records, is linked to a drug smuggling syndicate.
"We also suspect that he was a tekong darat. He also tested positive for drugs," he added.
He said based on initial investigations police found that he had obtained the gun from a Thai supplier.
"Police believe local drug traffickers have bought pistols from Thailand , priced between RM2,000 to RM7,000 each," he added.