Kelantan police expect 50 illegal bases along the Golok River to be demolished by month-end, with cross-border crime significantly reduced
KOTA BHARU: Police expect at least 50 illegal bases along the Golok River on the Kelantan-Thailand border to be demolished by the end of this month.
Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said 25 illegal bases in the Tanah Merah and Pasir Mas districts have been dismantled since last month.
He expects about 20 more illegal bases to be demolished by month-end, with two weeks of operations remaining.
“So far, no attempts have been detected to rebuild the demolished jetties,” Mohd Yusoff told a press conference.
He said continuous monitoring will be carried out to ensure the bases are not re-established.
The police chief also said leaks of information related to the demolition operations had been detected.
This led to rafts previously stationed on the Kelantan side being shifted to Thailand.
He said the closure of illegal crossing points since December 2024 has significantly reduced cross-border crime.
“Before the crackdown, as many as 500 people crossed the border daily using these routes,” he said.
Currently, only about 10% continue to defy the closure and use illegal bases.
On migrant smuggling, Mohd Yusoff said syndicates operating via ungazetted routes were successfully disrupted.
Joint enforcement operations were conducted between January and November this year.
A total of 199 raids were carried out during the period.
These involved cases of migrant smuggling, harbouring of migrants and illegal border crossings.
Police opened 50 investigation papers under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.
This resulted in the arrest of 70 skippers and 332 migrants.
For offences involving the harbouring of migrants, 54 investigation papers were opened.
These involved the arrest of 53 individuals and 214 migrants.
Meanwhile, 27 investigation papers were opened for illegal border crossings.
This led to 35 individuals being arrested, including 29 locals and six Thai nationals aged 17 to 74.
“Police will continue to tighten border security, particularly along illegal routes,” Mohd Yusoff said.
This will be done through cooperation with other enforcement agencies and information-sharing with the Thai Police. – Bernama
