GOF, Thai authorities to hold border security talks in Krabi over illegal immigration issue

TUMPAT, May 10 — The issue of illegal immigration will be the main focus of a bilateral meeting between the General Operations Force (GOF) and Thai authorities to be held in Krabi from June 10 to 12. The meeting is aimed at strengthening the Malaysia-Thailand border security control.

GOF Southeast Brigade commander SAC Ahmad Radzi Hussain said the meeting would serve as a platform to strengthen cooperation and intelligence sharing in efforts to curb cross-border criminal activities, including human smuggling.

He said the increase in the influx of immigrants at this time is believed to be driven by global economic factors and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, which are affecting many countries.

“The situation has led many immigrants to seek countries that are considered capable of offering a better standard of living, including Malaysia, which is seen as a preferred destination.

“We believe that more immigrants will try to enter the country through illegal routes, and the GOF will enhance control to ensure that no breaches occur,” he said to reporters after the handover of duties ceremony for Op Taring Wawasan Kelantan (OTWK) at the GOF Tactical Headquarters in Pengkalan Kubor here yesterday. 

Meanwhile, Ahmad Radzi said the GOF Southeast Brigade recorded 51 cases of illegal immigrants through OTWK from Jan 1 to May 8, involving 318 individuals, with Myanmar nationals making up the highest number at 227 people.

He also said syndicates are now detected using sea and river routes around Tumpat to smuggle in immigrants, involving land coordinators from several other states, while the GOF Eastern Brigade has also recorded seizures worth RM195 million since January. — Bernama