The guns were found in a back room at the store during the 10.20am raid, Berita Harian reported.

Melaka police chief Dzulkhairi Mukhtar said police arrested the premises’ caretaker, a 42-year-old man, who said the imitation guns were obtained from a northern state for sale in Melaka both online and in person.

“Police will not issue licences for airsoft guns that resemble real weapons as they may be used for robberies and subversive training exercises,” Dzulkhairi told a press conference at the Melaka Tengah police headquarters.

He said the imitation pistols were being sold for RM300 each.

“Tests found that these guns could be fired up to a range of about 10m, and their bullets were capable of injury.

“We do not reject the possibility that these guns have been sold to students.

“There have been cases where teachers found students bringing these guns to school and giving excuses that they were to shoot lizards, dogs and so on,” he said.

Efforts to trace the premises’ owner are ongoing.

The case is being investigated under Section 36 of the Arms Act 1960 for owning and importing imitation weapons, which provides for up to a year’s imprisonment or a fine of up to RM5,000, upon conviction.