RANTAU PANJANG: High demand for Thai goats and their cheap prices prompted smugglers to continue bringing the livestock into Malaysia via the border in Kelantan.
General Operation Force Southeast Brigade commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said a goat is priced at nearly RM700 each in Thailand, which is much cheaper compared to those sold in Malaysia.
"In Malaysia, a goat is sold between RM1,000 to RM1,500 each which is double in price to those sold by Thai suppliers.
"This prompted smugglers to continue smuggling the goats to Malaysia via Kelantan's border as they can gain high profits.
"These smugglers who are believed to be part of a syndicate, however, will only bring in the livestock in large quantities. They do not smuggle the goats for rearing purpose."
Nik Ros said the goats would normally be smuggled via the Golok river using small boats.
"Each boat can ferry between eight and 10 goats and smugglers will bring the animals from the illegal jetty at the Thai side and later send them to their counterparts who are waiting on the Kelantan side.
"From the illegal jetty in Kelantan, the livestock will be gathered at one place before being sent to their suppliers via lorry.
"This was the modus operandi used by the livestock smuggling syndicate, which will send the livestock to suppliers living in areas like Pasir Mas and Kota Baru," he added.
He said the syndicate would normally change their modus operandi regularly to avoid detection by the authorities.
"Despite the change in the modus operandi, our GOF personnel who are manning the border area continue to nab them.
"The latest was last night where they detained a lorry driver and his attendant with 44 smuggled goats worth RM55,000 at Kampung Repek, Pasir Mas," he added.
He said the du, o aged 22 and 50, were believed to be hired by the syndicate to transport the animals to local buyers.