KOTA BARU —Illegal immigrant smuggling syndicates operating along the Malaysia-Thai border in Kelantan have changed their modus operandi, shifting their routes from the Golok River to the Kelantan River.
General Operations Force (PGA) Southeast Brigade Commander SAC Ahmad Radzi Hussain the change was detected following intensified enforcement along the Golok River, which up until now had been syndicates’ main route for illegal crossings from Thailand.
“Tight security controls and continuous deployment at PGA posts have prevented the syndicates from breaching the border, prompting them to shift landing points to remote villages along the Kelantan River, away from monitoring by our forces,” Bernama reported him saying.
“The syndicates no longer rely on the usual Golok river route. They now use boats to transport illegal immigrants through tributaries of the Kelantan River, landing in less populated areas far from PGA posts.”
The Kelantan River is over 200 km long runs through remote areas of the state.
Between January 1 and yesterday, the PGA arrested a total of 84 illegal immigrants, comprising 75 men and nine women, in several operations in the area, Ahmad Radzi said.
Myanmar nationals made up the largest group with 31 people (25 men and six women), followed by Bangladeshis (19 men), Thais (17: 15 men and two women), Nepalis (10: nine men and one woman), Indian nationals (four men), Indonesians (two men), and one Nigerian man.
“All those arrested are believed to have entered the country without valid travel documents, and investigations are ongoing under the Immigration Act 1959/63,” he said.
He added that the PGA will continue to strengthen land and maritime patrols and increase intelligence operations to prevent syndicates from exploiting new routes. – February 14, 2026