IGP: Tighter border controls help curb smuggling, illegal activities

PASIR MAS, Aug 26 — The recent tightening of controls at the country’s entry points has had a positive impact on efforts to curb smuggling and other illegal activities, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Ismail.

He said police were constantly assisting relevant agencies such as the Malaysia Border Control and Protection Agency, Immigration Department and Customs Department to ensure “leakages and breaches” were prevented not only along the borders but also at the country’s entry points.

“So far, the instructions I have received from the Home Ministry are for us to assist the relevant agencies so that we can ensure such matters are curbed,” he told a press conference after conducting a working visit to an illegal jetty in Lubok Gong, Rantau Panjang, here today.

He said cooperation among government agencies under the Home Ministry was important to ensure that operations related to controlling the country’s entry points could be carried out in an integrated manner.

Meanwhile, commenting on developments involving a pilot with a local airline who was arrested in Indonesia for alleged drug smuggling, Mohd Khalid said the matter had been left to the authorities in Indonesia.

On July 29, the media reported that a 39-year-old Malaysian pilot had been detained by Indonesian authorities at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport after allegedly attempting to smuggle 25 kilogrammes of drugs.

According to the Indonesian National Police, an inspection found 15 packages containing 70,114 ecstasy and methamphetamine capsules, estimated to be worth RM45 million based on Indonesian market prices. — Bernama