KL cracks down on arms smuggling

KL cracks down on arms smuggling

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysian authorities are cracking down on an arms smuggling said to involve policemen, and have even frozen new gun licenses and recalled arms.

Since the arrest of a prominent Malaysian businessmen in Taiwan last month on suspicion of smuggling arms, police have begun unravelling the syndicate's operations. A former champion shooter has been jailed for arms dealing.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who is also Home Minister, admitted the government had not been vigilant enough when issuing gun permits, as the probe into the scandal widened.

Authorities said they were tracking a syndicate working out of eastern Sabah state's capital, Kota Kinabalu, involving several police believed to have sold guns with forged licenses.