The Marine Police Force (PPM) has warned smuggling syndicates that their movements are constantly monitored, especially with more than 10 syndicates actively committing crimes in the waters of Region Two.

PPM commander, SAC Mohd Yusoff Mamat said the list of other syndicates active in the same activities was also “in their hands” and had been channelled to the police Criminal Investigation Department of each state for further action.

“We want to stress that from the list (of syndicates), we have identified them including the skippers (tekong) and so on for us to take action together with Johor police and the police of other states.

“These (syndicates and tekong) comprise locals, foreign nationals and permanent residents and we are giving a warning to them.”

He said this at a ceremony marking the handing-over of duties for the post of commander of PPM Region Two from ACP Abdul Rahman Mohamad who will retire tomorrow to ACP Muhd Zailani Abdullah at its headquarters in Tampoi, here, yesterday.

Mohd Yusoff said PPM had an intelligence unit to combat the activities and therefore, monitoring of the country's waters would continue to address the problem holistically.

“This is important because the waters of Johor, for example, are the main route for the smuggling of migrants, contraband and so on due to its close proximity to Indonesia.

"So, we have to tighten security over the waters. That is why I have instructed the PPM Region Two officers to mobilise about 75 per cent of the patrol boats each day to monitor the situation," he said.

-- BERNAMA