RANTAU PANJANG: Small-time smugglers or "tentera semut" operating along the border will now find it harder to pass goods to accomplices.

The fence at the Immigration, Customs and Quarantine (ICQ) complex which they have cut last month has been replaced.

The work to replace the 2.5m fence at a cost of RM19,000, started last week.

"The new fence is thicker and harder compared to the previous fence," said State Immigration Department director Che Baharom Hamzah.

He said the department decided to replace the fence after the New Straits Times highlighted the smuggling activities on April 2.
Che Baharom said the department would continue monitoring the complex especially the fence.

"Tentera semut" (ant soldier) who were mostly Thais, are hired by syndicates to bring in packages of rice or other contraband in small quantities from the Thai side of the border to Muhibbah bridge, which connects the ICQ complex to the Thai Customs and Immigration office in Sungai Golok.