Syndicates tap locals with ‘clean profiles’ to move contraband

Syndicates tap locals with ‘clean profiles’ to move contraband

KUALA LUMPUR: Cross-border smuggling syndicates are exploiting border residents by recruiting Malaysians to play key operational roles — ranging from transporters and lookouts to logistics facilitators — in a bid to reduce the risk of detection along Malaysia’s northern border.

Kedah police chief Datuk Adzli Abu Shah said the involvement of these folk has become a key feature in the latest smuggling networks, with syndicates deliberately leveraging Malaysians’ “clean profiles” and access to locally registered vehicles to move goods and migrants discreetly.

He said those living along the border were frequently hired to transport contraband or migrants to transit houses, where their less suspicious backgrounds allow them to bypass enforcement scrutiny.

“The border folk are often hired to transport goods or migrants from the border to transit houses because they have clean profiles and locally registered vehicles that are less likely to raise suspicion.”

Adzli said some border folk have also been identified acting as “tonto”, or lookouts, tracking the movements of enforcement agencies and relaying real-time information through messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram.

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He said others were involved as logistics facilitators, providing transit storage facilities and vehicles registered under third-party names through purchase or rental arrangements.

“This network operates in a structured manner involving both countries. These syndicates do not operate alone,” he said.

“Each member has a specific role such as planner, supplier, transporter, storage handler and receiver.”

He added that other dominant cross-border crimes along the Malaysia-Thailand border include drug trafficking and arms smuggling, which remain key enforcement priorities for security agencies operating in the area.

Meanwhile, Internal Security and Public Order Department (General Operations Force) deputy director Datuk Mohamad Suzrin Mohamad Rodhi said smuggling syndicates had also adopted layered operating structures involving “tekong darat”, runners, reconnaissance teams and informants to minimise the risk of arrest.

He said there has also been increasing evidence of participation of border folk, with some individuals misusing their freedom of movement to act as “tekong darat” and runners.

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“This includes individuals acting as spotters and informants who report every movement of security forces along the border,” he said.

For migrant smuggling activities, he said undocumented migrants were typically placed temporarily in transit houses, lodging facilities or concealed areas before being moved to designated destinations.

He added that communication within syndicates was largely conducted through social media platforms and messaging applications to coordinate movements.

“There are also elements of human trafficking in these operations involving travel debt, salary deductions and control over victims’ movements.”