‘Dead’ city: At Kelantan-Thailand border, Malaysia’s drug battle unsettles residents, companies | USAEMALL.com

Phimon Chongrak, security division head of the Sungai Golok district council, acknowledged the drug situation in his area has become “very serious” in the past four to five years.

“Malaysia started to lose confidence in us and urged the Thai side to step up efforts in suppressing drug smuggling, since Malaysia itself has been enforcing strict measures against it,” he told CNA.

“When it comes to illegal jetties, they’re actually natural crossings that locals have used for a long time. It’s part of their way of life in Sungai Golok. If we completely shut them down, it would affect their livelihoods and the local culture.”

While Phimon said Thai authorities “try to turn a blind eye and be understanding” about these crossings, he stressed that drugs were an “exception”.

“We’ve asked local people not to hide or smuggle them, like putting them inside instant noodle packages or other items. Drug issues are something the government takes very seriously,” he added.

CAN BORDER WALL STEM FLOW OF DRUGS?

According to Thai officials, the main types of drugs trafficked from Thailand to Malaysia by way of large-scale shipments are crystal methamphetamine, followed by heroin and ketamine.

To be sure, drugs and other contraband are also smuggled across the western sections of the Malaysia-Thailand border, where the Golok river gives way to hills and dense forests that separate the states of Kedah and Perlis from the Thai provinces of Yala, Songkhla and Satun.

Smugglers operating in those areas have established routes to cross over undetected, media reports have said, and some have transported contraband through holes in border fences or over them.

However, the fact that Kelantan is only separated from Thailand by the narrow Golok river has made the Malaysian state a major drug transit point, Yusoff – the Kelantan police chief – reportedly said in July.

Yusoff told CNA the Golok river makes the Kelantan-Thailand border “extremely unique”, referring to geographical features like flat land and residential areas that stretch right to the riverbanks on both sides.