KOTA BARU: Thai police have supported the move by the Malaysian Armed Forces to closed 129 illegal jetties along the Kelantan-Thai border.
Sungai Golok police chief Colonel Prayut Phongsanti said the closure, however, would not put a stop to the smuggling activities here especially at Sungai Golok in Rantau Panjang.
“I agreed with the Malaysian Armed Forces to shut down the illegal jetties but I believed it will not reduce the number of smuggling activities as the smugglers will use other channels to continue with their activities,” he said when met at state police’s Hari Raya Open House.
Prayut said the Thai authorities, however, are not following the move by Malaysian authorities to close down the illegal jetties.
“Our border patrol police are only told to increase their checks around the clock to prevent unwanted movements (of the smugglers) from entering or leaving Thailand,” he said.
Malaysian authorities have since closed 129 illegal jetties to prevent the smuggling of drugs and contraband, among others.
Eighth Brigade commander, Brig-Gen Nazari Abd Hadi said 400 army personnel have been stationed along the river to ensure security remains tight.