PERLIS POLICE STEP UP BORDER CONTROLS TO CURB MIGRANT SMUGGLING

KANGAR, Nov 13 (Bernama) -- Perlis police are stepping up border controls from time to time in a bid to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling.

State police chief Datuk Muhammad Abdul Halim said that most illegal migrants enter the country via land routes rather than by sea, owing to Perlis’ small geographical size and its road network that facilitates cross-border movement.

“Although smuggling activities still take place, they are now more under control through coordinated efforts between the PDRM (Royal Malaysian Police) and other agencies, including the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and the Immigration Department.

“We always make sure that security at the state’s land and sea borders is at its best,” he told a press conference following a town hall session on the Anti-Human Trafficking and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act at Kompleks Kerajaan Negeri here today.

He added that 22 hotspot areas and rat trails, often used for migrant smuggling, have been identified in Perlis.

Muhammad said that the syndicate involved in migrant smuggling is now believed to have adopted a more organised modus operandi, including the use of surveillance vehicles and drones to avoid detection in border areas.

“Drones are used to monitor the area from the border all the way to the point where migrants are handed over to transporters, who then take them to the designated locations.

“The installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in fenced border areas assists us in our enforcement work, and we’re also keeping an eye on the syndicate’s new tactics,” he said.

Muhammad also said that a total of 33 cases under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Act 670) were recorded in Perlis from 2024 to October this year.

Of the total, he said 22 cases were recorded last year and 11 cases up to last October.

--BERNAMA