KOTA BHARU, Aug 7 — The closure of illegal bases along the Malaysia-Thailand border has disrupted the movement and transit network of smuggling syndicates, thus contributing to a significant decrease in smuggling cases detected in Kelantan.

Kelantan Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) director Hanif Yusabra Yusof said the closure of illegal routes has caused syndicates to face difficulties in carrying out smuggling activities as their access and transit routes have been affected.

“When compared to the situation before the illegal base was closed and today, the decrease is very significant in terms of smuggling cases that we detect and arrest.

“When access for smuggling is closed, the control of the enforcement authorities becomes better and it helps enforcement operations,” he told Bernama recently.

He said the KPDN has also strengthened control in border areas through static deployment of personnel at petrol stations in addition to continuous patrols as part of routine operations.

He said the operation was carried out seven days a week with a focus on border areas to curb the leakage and smuggling of controlled goods, especially subsidised fuel.

Commenting on Thailand’s proposal to build a fort in the border area, Hanif Yusabra said the Kelantan KPDN welcomed the move because it was expected to strengthen cross-border control and further complicate the movement of smuggling syndicates.

Meanwhile, a recent Bernama survey in the town of Sungai Golok, Narathiwat in Thailand found the sale of petrol and diesel believed to be smuggled from Malaysia has been decreasing compared to before the closure of illegal bases along the border.

Earlier, the fuel was easily found for sale in several locations.

The survey results found that there were still traders offering petrol and diesel in bottles and plastic drums in several locations, but the amount was much smaller and they were no longer sold openly as before.

The survey also found that most locations previously believed to be transit and fuel sales points appeared deserted, thus illustrating the impact of the closure of illegal bases on the supply chain of cross-border smuggling activities. — Bernama