Locals smuggle contraband due to high pay: GOF

BUKIT KAYU HITAM: The high payment has been among factors that drove locals to smuggle subsidised goods such as cooking oil, and 'ketum' leaves into Thailand.
General Operations Force (GOF) Northern Brigade commander SAC Zahari Ahmad said it was easier for the locals to smuggle the items because they were familiar with the border and its surrounding areas.
"Apart from receiving high pay, the smugglers are willing to sacrifice their lives for the sake of profits as the prices of the subsidised goods and ketum are very expensive over there," he told a press conference at the GOF Tactical headquarters here today.
Nevertheless, Zahari said GOF, via its intelligence unit, had always been monitoring all movements along the borders and would act immediately upon receiving such information.
He said GOF seized various items such as frozen meat, petrol, cigarettes, alcoholic beverages and ketum along the borders in Kedah and Perlis worth RM316,963 from Sept to Oct.
We have also seized ketum, cooking oil and wheat flour involving 17 cases worth RM324,326 in the past two weeks, he added.
"A total of 22 vehicles have been seized from Sept until yesterday," said Zahari, adding that 32 individuals had been detained so far. — Bernama