KOTA BARU: Police have found that smuggling syndicates are increasingly using river and coastal routes from Tak Bai, Thailand, including waterways in Tumpat, that can reach Sungai Kelantan.
Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said that this change in their modus operandi was detected this year, with syndicates using sea and coastal routes more often.
He said the syndicates are using river routes in Tumpat and island areas, including around Pulau Tok Kong.
"Now the syndicates are using more sea and coastal routes. They enter through rivers in Tumpat and islands around the area. Many river routes in the area can reach Sungai Kelantan," he said when contacted.
He added that the syndicates also used the coastal routes from Tak Bai before entering areas in Kuala Besar, Semerak, Pengkalan Chepa and Pantai Sabak, while others even moved up to Besut in Terengganu.
Mohd Yusoff said the use of these routes had been proven through several drug seizures carried out by police in coastal areas previously.
"We have made drug arrests in Pantai Sabak and Semerak, with seizures of more than 100kg of syabu brought in by boats," he said.
Commenting on illegal bases at the Malaysia-Thailand border, he said 91 of those built on government land had been demolished.
Security control along the Kelantan-Thailand border spans about 163km, with 91km involving the waters of Sungai Golok. This monitoring covers several key districts, including Tumpat, Rantau Panjang (Pasir Mas), Tanah Merah and Jeli.
Previously, the ban on illegal cross-border movement through illegal bases or crossing points along the Malaysia-Thailand border (especially in the Sungai Golok area) has been in force since Dec 1, 2024. - Bernama
