KOTA BARU: Eight locations along the Kelantan-Thai border have been identified as the hotspots used by human trafficking syndicates to send illegal immigrants into Malaysia.
General Operations Force (GOF) Southeast Brigade Commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said these locations include Tok Awang Belulang and Lubok Gong.
There were also six illegal jetties being used by these syndicates, located in Rantau Panjang and Tumpat.
He said the six illegal jetties were identified as MCA, Gergaji, Tanjung, Jeram Perdah 1, Jeram 2 and Jeram 3.
"Ops Taring Wawasan Kelantan covers about 41.8km of the border from Pangkalan Haram Tanjung in Pengkalan Kubur to Rantau Panjang duty-free zone.
"For Taring Wawasan Kelantan, we have identified eight areas that are often used by human trafficking syndicates to send immigrants.
"After entering the state via these routes, the foreigners will either use private transportation or express buses and taxis to get to their destination," he said.
"The illegal immigrants who have entered Malaysia via Jeram Perdah area will normally use private cars to send them to their destinations.
"The car drivers are also transporters hired by this syndicate," he added.
On another development, Nik Ros Azhan said a total of 296 illegal immigrants were detained by the GOF between Jan 1 and Aug 31.
He said the foreigners, comprising 226 men and 70 women, were arrested by the three battalions under the southeast brigade.
He said 201 of the immigrants were from Myanmar, Bangladesh (51), Thailand (24), India (eight), Rohingya (five), Indonesia (four) and Pakistan (three).
During the same period, he said a total of 21 tekong (name given to those who harbouring illegal immgrants) were nabbed.
He said the 21 comprised 17 Malaysians, three Myanmar individuals and a Thai national.