TUMPAT: Border enforcement agencies in Kelantan have identified 96 illegal stores used by smugglers to send Malaysian subsidised and essential items to Thailand.
Kelantan Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry director Azman Ismail said these stores are located along the Golok river between Pengkalan Kubor and Jeli.
He said they were set up on private land and are surrounded with high fences.
"The state border enforcement agencies have traced 96 stores that were set up illegally close to the Golok river.
"The stores were used by smugglers to send Malaysian subsidised and essential items to Thailand such as diesel, petrol and other items.
"These stores are surrounding by fences made of zinc and concrete to prevent any arrests by enforcement agencies," Azman told a press conference on the latest seizure here today.
He said despite the culprits' efforts, the border agencies would continue operations to track down smugglers who owned the stores.
"Despite their tactics, the ministry and other agencies will continue putting a stop to these illegal activities. We will hunt them down one by one without fear."
On the latest operation codenamed Op Bersepadu, Azman said they recorded 84 cases with the seizure of smuggled items worth about RM48,000.
He said nine smugglers were arrested in the operation from Dec 12-14.
"The operation involved 278 officers of various border enforcement agencies, and we also raided five illegal stores at the border area and seized diesel and other smuggled items," he said.