PASIR PUTEH: A smuggling syndicate operating along the Kelantan-Thailand border was detected using high-speed boats worth hundreds of thousands of ringgit to smuggle and transport contraband goods.
This syndicate also disguises its activities as fishing trips to monitor and evade enforcement authorities at sea.
The boat was discovered in the neighbouring country, stored away safely as it did not have any registration yet.
Kelantan Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director, Maritime Captain Erwan Shah Soahdi, said three high-speed boats believed to belong to the smuggling syndicates have been seized so far this year.
"Based on our seizures, these boats were used to transport smuggled cigarettes, but we believe they were also used for a variety of contraband goods, not just cigarettes.
"Their modus operandi involves loading contraband onto other boats first before transferring it to high-speed boats at specific locations.
"These high-speed boats can travel at speeds of up to 80 kilometres per hour as they are equipped with three engines, each with 200 horsepower," he said during an interview recently.
He added that the latest seizure last Friday included a high-speed boat carrying smuggled white cigarettes from a neighbouring country.
The seized boat measured 12 metres in length and 6 metres in width, fitted with three engines, each worth RM70,000. The boat itself is estimated to cost RM80,000. The total cost for such a boat, including the engines, is approximately RM290,000.
Erwan said that after these boats are used for smuggling activities, they are typically stored in Thailand to avoid enforcement action, as they are unregistered.
"According to the Shipping Ordinance Act, boats without registration numbers are illegal and subject to enforcement action.
"With three engines, these high-speed boats have the advantage of reaching top speeds and navigating shallow waters," he said.