KOTA BARU: Eight Thai women were detained by the General Operations Force (GOF) for entering Malaysia illegally in Rantau Panjang and Tumpat.
The women, aged between 24 and 39, were arrested in a two-day operation that ended yesterday.
Also arrested were two men suspected to be 'tekong darat' (name given to locals who harbour illegal foreigners).
GOF Ninth Battalion commanding officer Superintendent Nor Azizan Yusof said the first operation was carried out at Kampung Kubang Kual near Rantau Panjang on Friday.
"In the operation, the GOF members stopped a car when it passed the area about 11pm and upon checking the vehicle, they found four Thai women, all of whom were without proper travel documents.
"A local man, aged 32, was also arrested together with the women," he said in a statement.
Nor Azizan said the other four women were detained at a chalet in Wakaf Bharu near Tumpat the following day.
"The four women, aged between 24 and 37, were nabbed early yesterday morning together with a 59-year-old local suspected to be the tekong darat," he added.
Nor Azizan said initial investigations showed that the Thai women had entered the country via the many illegal jetties along the border.
"We believe they were to be sent to work in other states such as Johor and Selangor.
"The locals are also believed to be members of human trafficking syndicates," he said.
He added that the women as well as the two locals were being held for further investigations.