After the closure of illegal piers along the Malaysia-Thailand border, smuggling syndicates' activities and transport networks have been disrupted, leading to a significant decrease in smuggling cases detected in Kelantan.
Kelantan Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Department director Hanif said that the closure of these illegal channels has obstructed smuggling syndicates' entry and exit routes as well as transport lines, making smuggling activities more difficult.
In an interview with Bernama, he said: "Compared to before the illegal piers were closed, the number of smuggling cases detected and arrests made by us has now dropped significantly.
"With the (smuggling) activities' channels cut off, enforcement units' control work has become more effective, which has also greatly improved the results of enforcement actions."
He said the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry has also strengthened controls in border areas, including stationing enforcement officers at petrol stations and continuing patrols as a routine enforcement effort.
Hanif mentioned that these actions are carried out seven days a week, focusing on border regions to curb the leakage and smuggling of controlled goods, especially subsidized fuel.
Speaking about Thailand's proposal to build a wall in border areas, he said the Kelantan Domestic Trade Department welcomes this move, as it is expected to further strengthen cross-border controls and increase the difficulty of smuggling.
Suspected Open Sale of Fuel Reduced
On the other hand, during a recent visit by Bernama to Golok town in Narathiwat, Thailand, it was found that suspected sales of petrol and diesel smuggled from Malaysia had significantly decreased compared to before the closure of illegal piers along the Malaysia-Thailand border.
This stands in stark contrast to the past, when fuel was openly sold at multiple locations.
The visit found that some vendors still sold petrol and diesel in bottles and plastic drums at certain spots, but the quantities had greatly reduced and sales were no longer as open as before.
Most of the places once suspected of being used as fuel transit and sales centers now appeared deserted, indicating that the closure of illegal piers has impacted the supply chain of cross-border smuggling activities.