KOTA BARU: Police have foiled an attempt to smuggle shoes and handbags worth RM3.1mil.
General Operations Force Southeast Brigade Commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Abd Hamid said the items were seized after police intercepted a lorry in Jalan Ismail Petra, Tanah Merah, at 1.30pm on Monday.
“Checks on the lorry found 9,369 pairs of shoes of various brands, including Nike, Adidas and Timberland, and 1,866 units of handbags such as LV, Chanel and Coach brands, all suspected to be smuggled from Thailand.
“The items, all believed to be counterfeit, were intended for the local market. The lorry driver, suspected to be acting as the delivery agent, was detained,” he said in a statement to Bernama yesterday.Meanwhile, Nik Ros Azhan said police also seized 13 cows worth about RM175,500, after stopping a lorry in Kampung Machang Gacoh Meranti, Pasir Mas.
He said the cows, weighing 11.7 tonnes, are believed to have been smuggled from Thailand.
“A 25-year-old man, believed to be transporting the animals to the local market, was detained. The case is being investigated under Section 36(1) of the Animals Act 1953,” he said.
Meanwhile, state police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said high-tech drones would soon be used to help tackle Malaysia-Thailand cross-border crimes.
He said they are cooperating with the Bukit Aman Air Wing Unit on the matter, adding that the use of these cutting-edge drones could help address issues related to the smuggling of drugs and other controlled and illegal items into and out of Kelantan.
He said the high-tech drones would also be used during the northeast monsoon season, adding that they had already forged a collaboration with neighbouring countries Thailand and Laos.
In the meantime, he proposed to Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Nasuruddin Daud the construction of a wall along the banks of Sungai Golok to combat cross-border crimes.
