BENTONG: The demand for firecrackers and fireworks ahead of Hari Raya Aidilfitri prompted a 38-year-old man to turn his rented house at Taman Desa Damai here into a store to keep the contraband.
Luck ran out for the man when police knocked on his door past midnight and seized some RM50,000 worth of "explosives" kept in dozens of boxes.
Bentong police chief Superintendent Zaiham Mohd Kahar said acting on a tip off, policemen raided the house at 12.30am yesterday.
He said the tenant, a jobless man, opened the door and allowed policemen to search the premises.
"We found several boxes containing firecrackers and fireworks and the suspect could not provide us any licence or documents to keep or sell the items. Investigations revealed the illegal items were recently delivered to his rented house.
"Police believe the man would sort out the items before selling it to potential customers in the district. We are trying to identify how the suspect obtained the contraband items," he said.
Zaiham said the suspect is investigated under Section 8 of the Explosives Act 1957 for possessing explosives without a legitimate purpose which carries a jail term of seven years or a fine of RM10,000 or both.
Meanwhile, he reminded all parties not to take the opportunity ahead of the festive season to sell unlicensed firecrackers and fireworks including modified ones.
He urged the public with information on such activities to channel information to the police so that action can be taken against the culprits.
