A 40-year-old man will be charged in court on Aug. 7 for the possession and importation of more than 150 airsoft handguns without license, and the importation of a replica gun without a permit.

The police were alerted to the sales of replica toy guns on an e-commerce platform.

According to a news release, the police received information about the sale of replica toy guns that shoot gel beads as projectiles on an e-commerce platform on Nov. 16, 2018.

Subsequently, the officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division were able to identify the seller through ground enquiries.

The man was arrested on the same day.

More than 150 airsoft guns and accessories were seized too.

The man will be charged in court for the possession and importation of the airsoft guns without license, and importation of a replica gun without permit.

Airsoft guns or any other guns that shoot pellets using compressed gas are regulated as "arms" under the Arms and Explosives Act, the news release added.

Penalties

No person, unless authorised by a licence to possess arms, shall have in his possession or under his control any of such arms.

The penalty for having possession or under his control any gun without license under Section 13(3) of the Arms and Explosives Act, can be fined up to S$5,000 for every such gun and jailed up to three years.

It is an offence for anyone to import or export any arms or explosives or any parts of arms or explosives without a license.

The offence of importing or exporting any arms or explosives under section 13(1) of the Arms & Explosives Act, carries a jail term not exceeding three years and a fine of up to S$10,000.

Under Section 45(a) of the Regulations of Imports and Exports Regulations, it is an offence for anyone to import or export any replica guns without a permit.

Anyone who is found guilty of this offence shall, on the first conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding S$100,000 or three times the value of the goods in respect of the committed offence, whichever is greater, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both.

For the second or subsequent conviction, anyone found guilty can be fined up to S$200,000 or four times the value of the goods in respect of the committed offence, whichever is greater, or to a jail term not exceeding three years or both.