KOTA BARU: More illegal jetties have been set up by smugglers operating along Sungai Golok, which form the Kelantan-Thailand border, to ease their activities and prevent detection by authorities.
Kelantan acting police chief Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun said these new jetties were mostly in Tumpat, Pasir Mas, Jeli and Tanah Merah.
He said the jetties enabled smugglers to bring in contraband items undetected as well as illegal immigrants.
"In my recent visit to the border areas, l saw many illegal jetties along the Sungai Golok riverbank.
'There are also stores set up close to each jetty and police suspect these stores and jetties are used by local smugglers to store and transport their goods.
"Our investigation also showed that drug addicts use these illegal jetties to cross over," he told a press conference here today.
Zaki said during the visit, he discovered at least 40 active illegal jetties.
Pasir Mas has 19 illegal jetties, followed by 17 in Tumpat, three in Tanah Merah and one in Jeli.
He said among the cases busted at one of the new illegal jetties was the arrest of 30 Myanmar nationals recently.
"The foreigners were nabbed after they crossed over to Kelantan at Keri illegal jetty in Nibong, Tumpat.
"Also detained was a local suspect for smuggling the immigrants," he added.