KOTA BARU: Kelantan police are stepping up efforts in cooperation with their Thai counterparts to apprehend smugglers who fired shots at Customs Department officers during an operation last Wednesday.
Kelantan police chief Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun said, "We initiated investigations immediately after receiving the report last Thursday. Our probe is ongoing and we appreciate the cooperation from Thai authorities in exchanging crucial information related to the incident."
Highlighting the seriousness of the situation, he emphasised plans for enhanced security along the Kelantan/Thai border.
"All agencies are instructed to increase their presence to prevent such incidents in the future. I will convene a meeting with border agency heads to discuss strategies for tightening border security."
Yesterday, Customs director-general Datuk Anis Rizana Mohd Zainuddin reassured the public that the recent incident would not deter the department's resolve to combat smuggling activities along the Malaysia-Thailand border. (https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2024/06/1066751/shooting-incide...)
She said: "Challenges during enforcement duties are routine for our personnel in maintaining the sovereignty of the country. We remain committed to trade facilitation and border control."
Anis underscored the Customs Department's commitment to addressing smuggling issues, saying, "We will take stringent actions against perpetrators involved in cross-border crimes based on all available laws."
The incident unfolded at Kampung Simpangan, Pengkalan Kubor, Sungai Golok, where smugglers fired shots at Customs officers during a raid on an illegal jetty. (https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/06/1066614/smugglers-fire-shots-...)
They were unloading goods believed to be petrol and diesel before fleeing into Thailand aboard boats after firing shots at the enforcement team.