FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

Security tightened at Thai-Malaysia border crossing in anti-drug offensive

Security tightened at Thai-Malaysia border crossing in anti-drug offensive

Security on the Thailand-Malaysia border has been tightened to deter drug smuggling, after Malaysian authorities captured a suspected member of alleged Lao drug lord Xaysana Keopimpha’s network.

The ramped-up security is taking place at the border crossing in Yala’s Betong district, following the arrest of Kamarudin bin Awang and the seizure of money allegedly made from drug-dealing.

An officer said that because of the arrest of Kamarudin bin Awang, it was suspected that other members of Xaysana’s network would attempt to smuggle drugs from Thailand across the border to Malaysia during the busy weekend period.

Officers at the border crossing have been ordered to strictly check the identity of travellers with the police database and carefully inspect vehicles that pass through the border, the officer said.

The officer also revealed a search was under way for Usaman Salaemang, an alleged powerful drug dealer in the South who is thought to be hiding in the border area.

He also said that drug profits were used to sponsor insurgency in the South.

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