KOTA BARU: The marine police have discovered a number of local fishermen working with smugglers to transport subsidised diesel and petrol across the Malaysia-Thai border in Sungai Golok.
This was observed based on the cases recorded under "Op Taring Landai", which was carried out by marine police teams manning the border area. The fishermen were mostly owners of Class A and B fishing boats.
Speaking to the New Straits Times, Bukit Aman marine police commander Senior Assistant Commissioner Norzaid Muhammad Said said police had categorised the individuals and fishermen as "smugglers".
"Based on interrogations by the marine police officers, these smugglers are working with syndicates in Thailand.
"During interrogations, we found that they obtained the diesel and petrol at fuel stations in Malaysia and later sent them to stores or illegal jetties situated along the riverbanks of Sungai Golok.
"They will transfer the fuel to plastic containers before sending them to the neighbouring country across the river using the fishermen's boats.
"For the local fishermen, we suspect them of transferring the fuel to their foreign counterparts at hidden areas," he said.
Norzaid also did not rule out the involvement of petrol station operators in fuel smuggling, whether they did it voluntarily or were forced by certain groups.
Based on recent patrols, inspections, intelligence and arrests made by the marine police, Norzaid said no diesel smuggling cases had been recorded at open sea.
"The smuggling cases were concentrated in rivers and landed areas closest to the neighbouring country.
"The contraband seizures were often made in coastal areas and inland, which were under our responsibility," he added.
He said in the last three years of Op Taring Landai, diesel smuggling only observed along Sungai Golok from Kuala Tak Bai to Kubang Pak Itam.
Norzaid said it took less than 10 minutes to transport the diesel and petrol across the river.
He believed that a high demand from suppliers in the neighbouring country had encouraged many smugglers to frequently send diesel and petrol across the border.
"The differences in fuel prices between Malaysia and Thailand also promote the frequency of fuel smuggling from Malaysia to Thailand. Smugglers will get bigger profits when they send over large quantities of fuel," he added.
He said the marine police, including the personnel stationed in Pengkalan Kubor, Tumpat, had stepped up their operations against this illegal activity round-the-clock.
"The marine patrol boats will patrol the border area regularly to nab those involved in this menace," he added.