KOTA BARU: Smugglers of government-subsidised fuel operating along the state border are now resorting to a new modus operandi by bringing their children in an attempt to evoke sympathy from enforcement authorities and evade arrest.
This tactic, according to the Kelantan Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, was detected during a series of arrests since July.
Its director, Azman Ismail, said he believed the smugglers choose to bring their children to gain sympathy from enforcement authorities.
"We have detected many smugglers, especially couples, who are willing to bring their young children along while conducting these illegal activities.
"They obtain fuel supplies from various petrol stations and later transport them to illegal jetties along the Golok River.
"From the riverbank, they wait for their Thai counterparts to pick up the supplies, but many fail to smuggle the fuel as they are arrested by our officers," he said
Azman cited a case in August when a couple was caught with their eight-year-old child while attempting to smuggle petrol to Thailand via an illegal jetty in Tumpat.
"This couple was arrested again two weeks later for a similar offence, and this time, they also brought the child," he added.
He added that checks showed the couple has been caught by the ministry three times since last year for the same offence.
"What I want to emphasise here is that smugglers are willing to sacrifice their own family just to make money," he added.