KOTA BARU: Malaysian diesel and petrol smugglers have now moved to areas in Tumpat to send subsidised fuel to Thailand.
Before this, they chose to smuggle the fuel to their counterparts using the Golok river in Rantau Panjang but due to increasing checks by enforcement agencies, they have switched to Tumpat, said deputy Sungai Golok mayor Aphichet Jeh-Ouma.
He claimed Malaysian smugglers prefer to send the fuel via Tumpat due to the location of the illegal jetties there.
"Compared to Rantau Panjang, Tumpat, especially Pengkalan Kubor has many jetties located in isolated areas. Some are covered in thick bushes, making it difficult for Kelantan enforcement agencies to reach the place.
"The Thai authorities were informed that this was among the reason for fuel smugglers from Kelantan and Sungai Golok province to change their tactics.
"They began to send the fuel via Golok river in Tumpat few months ago," he said.
Despite their new modus operandi, he said the Thai enforcement authorities would cooperation with their counterpart in Kelantan to curb fuel and other smuggling activities.
"Despite the various efforts taken in nabbing them, both Thai and Kelantan smugglers are so cunning. They will bring in Malaysian subsidised petrol and diesel through the routes where they think there are no authorities.
"Like Malaysia, it is also an offence to sell smuggled goods and many Thai people are aware about it, but many people choose to ignore it and are willing to face the risk."
Aphichet said the Thai authorities also have been checking on petty traders selling Malaysian subsidised fuel along the roadside between Sungai Golok town and Pattani.
"As they were only selling Malaysian diesel and fuel in small quantities, authorities only gave them verbal warnings and reminded them about it being an offence.
"Some who sold the fuel in big quantities have been arrested, but most of them later continue with the activity after they were released."
He estimated that more than 300 petty traders sell Malaysian diesel and petrol along the roadside in these southern provinces with nearly 120 of them operating in the Sungai Golok sub-province.
When commenting on this, General Operations Force Southeast Brigade commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said he has directed all GOF personnel manning the border area in Tumpat to beef up their checks at the illegal jetties.
"They are also told to conduct checks on public vehicles passing the main roads or shortcut routes," he added.
He said the GOF with the help of other agencies like the Kelantan Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) would continue to carry out their operations against fuel smugglers.