PASIR MAS: The federal Police Air Wing (Drone Unit) will be deployed to assist enforcement agencies in states bordering with Thailand including Kelantan in curbing smuggling activities.
Deputy Internal Security and Public Order Department director (General Operations Force) Datuk Kasuahdi Ali said the unit would be sent to border states upon request.
"It cannot be denied that the use of drones is important at border states like Kelantan in helping the authorities in their border patrol.
"Kelantan has two units of drones but they are not suitable to cover the border areas. Therefore, we will send the Bukit Aman drone unit and they will assist the border agencies," he said after a press conference on the latest seizure of RM8.6 million drugs by the General Operations Force today.
Kasuahdi said the drone unit would be deployed to border states with high frequency of smuggling activities.
He added that the use of drones was proven to be an effective tool for security agencies patrolling the country's borders.
"The use of drones under the ongoing Op Benteng can also save time and the government is considering upgrading equipment (used in enforcement operations), especially for the GOF members," he said.
It was reported recently tahat smuggling syndicates operating along the country's borders had upgraded themselves from using conventional equipment to sophisticated technology, including drones, in an effort to evade enforcement agencies.
They use drones to monitor the enforcement agencies' activities along the border areas.