KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 9 — High prices of pork in Thailand — up to RM100 per kilogramme — have caused rampant smuggling of pork across the Kelantan border since last December.
Local daily New Straits Times reported today that the pigs were mostly obtained from Pahang, Terengganu and Perak and were cut into half, before being smuggled into Thailand using illegal bases around the state.
Investigations by the newspaper found local villagers had allowed their area to be used as transit points before the meat was sent to Thailand, adding that it would be transported in four-wheel drives or lorries and shipped across the border via boats.
Citing Malaysia Border Control Agency (Aksem) commandar Mohd Asri Yahya, the illegal activity was discovered around Kampung Itik and would operate at night time to avoid authorities.
“The illegal smuggling of pigs has been around for a long time, however, the activity has increased since last December. Recently, we managed to confiscate 61 pigs at Lalang Pepuyu believed to be from Pahang.
“We believe the mastermind of the syndicate is based outside of Kelantan and uses local folks around the border to assist in their activity,” he told the daily.
Asri told the daily that local villagers have expressed their concern on the potential contamination of river resources as well as the effect it would have to their villages in regards to Islam, due to the close proximity.
He said the authorities are monitoring the activity, which includes working with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan).
Perhilitan Kelantan director Hasdi Hussain admitted to the daily that the illegal smuggling was increasing, and agreed on working with the border control agency and other relevant authorities to curb the illegal activities.
