Crime & Courts

More than 1,000 illegal immigrants nabbed at Kelantan border this year

RANTAU PANJANG: Police have arrested more than 1,000 immigrants for entering the country illegally via the Kelantan border.

Acting state police chief Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun said the illegal immigrants were detained by the General Operations Force (GOF) in a series of Op Wawasan carried out since January this year.

He said they were nabbed in seven districts — Pasir Mas, Kota Baru, Tanah Merah, Tumpat, Pasir Puteh, Gua Musang and Kuala Krai.

"Since early this year, the GOF members have recorded 63 cases of illegal immigrants with the arrest of 1,119 foreigners."

"A majority of those who have entered Malaysia via the Kelantan border were from Myanmar," Zaki told reporters after witnessing the handing over of the GOF post between the GOF Eighth Battalion and the Ninth Battalion in Lubok Setol here today.

During the same period, he said, 111 "tekong darat" (locals harbouring illegal immigrants) were arrested for smuggling in illegal immigrants.

He said the three battalions involved in Op Wawasan under the Southeast Brigade had successfully seized about RM84 million worth of smuggled items and vehicles.

"The Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Battalions conducted operations between January and this month which resulted in the seizure of goods and vehicles valued at RM84 million."

Zaki said in the latest operation on Aug 25 in Tumpat, 640,000 sticks of smuggled cigarettes worth RM1.58 million, including unpaid taxes, were seized.

Most Popular
Related Article
Says Stories