Over 200 illegal bases along Sungai Golok border shut down
PASIR MAS: More than 200 unauthorised bases along the Malaysian side of Sungai Golok border have been shut down to combat cross-border crimes, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He said the move was part of the Strengthening National Border Control Committee's actions to tighten monitoring of the 103km border route.
"The closure of illegal bases and implementation of an omnipresent (comprehensive presence) approach by security forces have successfully reduced illegal border crossings.
"There are no significant numbers (of individuals crossing borders illegally) (and) the trend has been controlled since December," he told reporters after visiting the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex in Rantau Panjang here on Sunday (May 4).
Saifuddin Nasution said security control was further boosted with 819 personnel deployed in rotation for monitoring and raid operations in border hotspot areas.
"When we close illegal bases and conduct consistent inspections, we see drug supplies decrease slightly. But we can't become complacent as smugglers may find alternative routes," he said.
Saifuddin Nasution said a new trend of drug landings has been detected in Kuala Kedah and also Kuala Sanglang in Perlis, believed to be the syndicates' response to tightened border controls in Kelantan.
"I was informed last week about increased drug landings in Kedah. I'm investigating if this directly results from our Kelantan border crackdown," he said, adding that he would consult the Kedah police chief (Datuk Fisol Salleh) on the matter.
He said ongoing surveillance would monitor for any rebuilt illegal bases, noting that smugglers constantly adapt their methods to evade detection. - Bernama
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