Six Chinese nationals were held for questioning on Tuesday after police were deployed to check weapons on a road in Sihanoukville’s Commune II.

Sihanoukville police chief Tey Visal said on Wednesday that five of the suspects were released after authorities questioned them.

A 31-year-old man holding a gun without legal permission was found to be related to an offence and was detained.

Visal said: “My authorities are continuing to question this suspect to build a report to be sent to the provincial police.”

On Tuesday, police officers investigated reports of explosive weapons nearby Commercial Market in Commune II. Officers stopped a car with six people inside, he said.

Officers found a Glock 19 Gen5 firearm along with two gun magazines and 30 bullets.

The gun owner told police that he and his peers were tourists who had arrived in Preah Sihanouk province less than a month ago. He said he bought the gun for self-protection.

Provincial coordinator for rights group Adhoc Cheap Sotheary said on Wednesday that many people move to Preah Sihanouk for work or tourism.

The influx of people leads to drug offences and violent crimes, Sotheary said.

“We see that both police officers and the courts pay great attention to search for offenders,” she said.