KUALA LUMPUR — Police are investigating possible links to a local drug syndicate following the arrest of a Malaysian man found with assault rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in Sadao, Songkhla, Thailand, last month.
Speaking to Scoop, Director of the Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID), Datuk Hussein Omar Khan, said investigations were ongoing to verify claims that the weapons were being smuggled for use by a drug syndicate.
“NCID is still investigating to confirm any connection with the drug syndicate,” he briefly said when contacted.
The 46-year-old man was arrested at 5.35pm on August 29 during a roadblock by Sadao District Police.
A search of his Malaysia-registered Kia vehicle uncovered two M4 rifles, 300 rounds of 5.56mm calibre ammunition, seven 5.56mm magazines, 100 rounds of .45 calibre ammunition, and 50 rounds of 9mm calibre ammunition.
All weapons and ammunition were seized by Thai authorities for further investigation.
Initial investigations revealed that the suspect admitted he had been hired by another man to smuggle the firearms into Malaysia.
On September 2, Inspector-General of Police, Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail, was reported as saying that PDRM would be sending officers to Thailand to obtain further details on the man’s arrest.
He added that PDRM would work closely with the Royal Thai Police to examine the suspect’s modus operandi. The man remains in custody in Thailand. — September 9, 2025