Kelantan on high alert: Anthrax fears drive border clampdown on illegal livestock ahead of Aidiladha
KOTA BARU, May 15 — Kelantan police have tightened border security to curb cattle smuggling ahead of Hari Raya Aidiladha, following reports of anthrax-related deaths in Thailand earlier this month.
Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said his department is working closely with relevant agencies, including the Department of Veterinary Services and border authorities, to prevent the illegal entry of livestock into the country.
'The deaths have been linked to the slaughter and consumption of raw meat in Don Tan district, Mukdahan province, Thailand, which borders Laos, according to a report by Thailand's Department of Disease Control.
'Kelantan police continue to strengthen intelligence gathering, patrols and inter-agency cooperation to safeguard national security and combat smuggling,' he told reporters after the monthly assembly at the Kelantan police contingent headquarters today.
Mohd Yusoff also reminded operators and livestock farmers not to bring in cattle through illegal routes and to use only authorised checkpoints at the ICQS Complex to ensure proper health screening is conducted.
He stressed that livestock smuggling not only harms the local livestock industry but also poses a risk of spreading infectious diseases to humans.
Mohd Yusoff added that the Border Security Coordination Committee's Working Group Meeting with the National Security Council has identified the need to enhance enforcement against livestock smuggling activities.
Between 2024 and April 2025, a total of 390 cows and 25 buffaloes were seized in 36 cases, with an estimated value of nearly RM4 million.
In a related development, Mohd Yusoff confirmed that police have received information regarding alleged abuse of power involving border enforcement personnel.
'Preliminary information indicates possible misconduct related to smuggling, including livestock. A special task force has been formed and investigations are underway by the Kelantan police intelligence division,' he said. — Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
24 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Kelantan police dispose of RM11.3m worth of drugs seized since 1997
KOTA BHARU, June 11 — Kelantan police today disposed of an estimated RM11.3 million worth of various types of illegal drugs and poisons seized from 1997 to 2024. Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said the case item disposal was implemented in accordance with the Inspector-General of Police Standing Order (PTKPN) D207, after all the cases had been charged and concluded in court. 'The disposal this time involved 467.722 kilogrammes (kg) and 2,165.48 litres of various banned substances, such as syabu (methamphetamine), yaba pills, cough mixtures, ketum juice, psychotropic pills and ganja (cannabis). 'The highest seizure value involved syabu, weighing 301.706kg and estimated at RM9.66 million; followed by 1,721.45 litres of cough mixtures worth over RM1 million,' he told a media conference on the disposal of case items at the Kelantan Police Headquarters here today. In a related development, the Kelantan Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) also recorded positive achievements from January to May this year, with the arrest of 12,298 individuals on various drug-related crimes. 'During that period, the NCID also seized drugs worth RM10.31 million and confiscated RM1.32 million worth of drug traffickers' assets,' he said. — Bernama
Malay Mail
24 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Unemployed man in Pasir Mas charged with unlawful possession of pistol, 47 bullets
PASIR MAS, June 11 — An unemployed man pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here today to charges of unlawful possession of a pistol and ammunition. On the first count, Mohd Zamri Mustafa, 50, was charged with possessing a Glock 19 pistol without a valid permit at a house in Jalan Meranti, here, at 8.30 pm last May 29. The charge, under Section 8 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971, provides imprisonment for up to 14 years and a minimum of six strokes of the cane, upon conviction. He was also charged with possessing 47 bullets, which include type A USA 9mm LUGER, FC 9mm LUGER, AP 14 9mm LUGER, PMC 9mm LUGER and S3 9mm LUGER, without any valid permit or licence at the same place, date and time. For possession of the ammunition, Mohd Zamri was charged with committing the offence under Section 8 (a) of the Arms Act 1960, which provides imprisonment of up to seven years or a fine not exceeding RM10,000 or both, if convicted. Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Aiysha Na'ilah Harizan did not offer bail as the case is non-bailable. Following this, Judge Zulkipli Abdullah ordered Mohd Zamri, unrepresented, to be detained in prison pending disposal of the case. He also set July 14 for the mention of the case. — Bernama
Malay Mail
41 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Perak police seize RM4.67m worth of drugs from abandoned SUV in Gerik
IPOH, June 11 — Perak police seized over 123 kilograms of methamphetamine and ketamine valued at RM4.67 million from an abandoned sports utility vehicle (SUV) near Loji Taman Pulai Savana in Gerik on June 6. Perak Police Chief Datuk Noor Hisam Nordin said the discovery was made after a member of the public alerted authorities to a suspiciously parked Honda HR-V along the roadside at around 1am. 'The prolonged presence of the vehicle raised suspicions, prompting a police patrol unit and a criminal investigation team to inspect the locked SUV,' he said during a press conference at the Perak Police Headquarters here today. Officers found 80 transparent plastic packets containing suspected methamphetamine weighing 82.8 kilograms, along with 39 packets of suspected ketamine totaling 40.4 kilograms. Noor Hisam said the drugs were in plain sight in the vehicle's bonnet, and there were no signs of the driver or passengers. 'Our officers believe the vehicle had been left there for about 30 minutes, as the engine was still warm when it was found,' he said. Investigations revealed that the SUV had been cloned, with its chassis number tampered with and engine number altered. 'The original registration was traced to a nurse residing in Serdang, Selangor,' Noor Hisam said. He described the seizure as significant, estimating the recovered drugs could have supplied 350,000 addicts — nearly half the population of Ipoh. 'We believe these drugs were intended for distribution within Perak and potentially to neighbouring states. 'Our investigation will also focus on the origin of the drugs and why the vehicle was abandoned in Gerik,' he added. Noor Hisam noted this is one of the largest drug seizures in the state for the first half of the year. The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction.
