249 smugglers arrested at Malaysia-Thai border from Jan-Oct this year

Kelantan police chief DCP Shafien Mamat said the suspected smugglers comprised locals and foreigners who were picked up at several hotspot locations along the border, including in Pasir Mas, Rantau Panjang, and Tumpat districts.

“Those detained are believed to runners of smuggling syndicates for rice, oil and flour, but there are also those involved in smuggling of migrants.

“They were nabbed by border enforcement agencies including the General Operations Force (GOF), Malaysian Border Security Agency (AKSEM), the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and the Marine Police Force,” he said when contacted here today.

Last year, authorities in the state detained 114 smugglers.

In a related development, Shafien said about RM15.8 million worth of smuggled goods were seized between January and October this year, involving 995 cases, compared with the corresponding period last year, with 537 cases and seizure of RM5.8 million of smuggled goods.

On illegal immigrants, Shafien said a total 1,767 foreigners were picked up by enforcement agencies along the border areas in operations between January to October this year, from 3,246 people during the corresponding period last year.

Most of the illegal immigrants are from Thailand, Bangladesh and Myanmar, he said, adding that they were sneaked into the country by “tekong darat” (smuggling agents).

“We believe enforcement of the Movement Control Order (MCO) since March, with the intensified checks, especially at the rat trails, is the reason for the drop in the arrest of illegal immigrants,” he said.