MACC exposes 'blatant' smuggling at Thai-Malaysian border, urges police crackdown

The MACC unveiled a series of videos today which depicted smuggling activities happening across the Thai-Malaysian border in Padang Besar, Perlis.

The clips, which the anti-corruption agency said were handed to them recently, dated from 2017 to May this year.

They showed how enforcement officers would stand around or be occupied on their mobile phones as smugglers carried sacks of goods across the border in plain sight.

It also showed officers being approached by smugglers before they commenced smuggling activities.

According to MACC’s analysis, smuggling was most rampant between 6am and 9am when enforcement officers changed shifts.

Among the things it believed was being brought illegally across the border were ketum leaves, petrol, fertiliser, flour, cooking oil and sundry items which were cheaper in Malaysia than in Thailand.

Addressing the press conference after playing the clips, MACC chief Latheefa Koya said that the videos showed “blatant” smuggling at the border and did not discount the possibility of more serious transborder crimes like human and drug trafficking.

The agency has since informed the police about its discovery.

“We have handed all video clips to the police. We will work with the IGP (Abdul Hamid Bador) to take the necessary action.

“[...] (And) once we get the details from the police, we will take the necessary action (that is) within our jurisdiction.

“Of course, the police on their side will have to take the necessary action to step up and tighten the borders, which would include rotations, changing and everything else that we need to do,” she said.

“We believe the data we received also involves the Immigration Department, Customs Department and the National Security Council (MKN),” Latheefa added.

Police probe underway

When contacted, Abdul Hamid said that the police had initiated a probe into the clips since receiving them late last month, and was working closely with the MACC and MKN on the matter.

He added that the improvements had been made to the police’s standard operating procedures (SOPs) for those stationed at national borders and entry points.

Smugglers have also been arrested.

"Since the past four to five months, General Operations Force (PGA) officers at the borders had recorded many successes in crippling smuggling syndicates that were responsible in trafficking all sorts of contrabands, illicit cigarettes, drugs, exotic animals, firearms, immigrants.

"They also arrested smugglers who tried to give them money (in exchange for allowing their activities).

"Their (officers’) awareness to carry out their duties with full integrity had been showing more and more. (And) with the latest standing orders on their duty SOPs, I am confident that cases of leakages at our borders can be decreased drastically,” he said. 

- Mkini