Blantyre — Police said yesterday that more than half of the firearms used in armed robberies is being smuggled in the country from Mozambique.

Southern Region Police Commissioner Often Thyolani said police investigations revealed that most fire-arms circulating in the country are from Mozambique and Malawi Police have sent investigators there.

Thyolani said the police has established that more than half of the rifles found recovered in armed robberies are AK 47 of Russian make commonly used in Mozambique.

"In an effort to curb the influx Police has sent CID officers to Mozambique to trace the source,"he said.

Meanwhile, the police have arrested five people suspected to have broken into a bakery in Blantyre, including the bakery's employee.

Thyolani said police recovered nine five rounds of ammunitions and an AK47 rifle suspected to have been supplied by a Mozambican who allegedly escaped.

Recently supermarkets have been targeted by armed robbers putting the police on alert.

Police Inspector General Joseph Aironi this week confirmed the influx of fire-arms in the country.