Rantau panjang: The Rantau Panjang Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) recorded nearly 1.64 million entries and exits of individuals at the Rantau Panjang Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complex (ICQS) from January until yesterday. Its deputy commander, Bakri Sulaiman, stated that for the first 11 months of this year, 784,617 individuals entered the country, while 855,564 individuals exited through the border gate.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the figures indicate that the Rantau Panjang ICQS remains a crucial land entry point, particularly for cross-border movement between Malaysia and Thailand. Bakri noted that the Rantau Panjang AKPS recorded 14 arrests related to immigration legal provisions this year from January to December 21. Specifically, six individuals were detained in May under Section 56(1)(l) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, and another eight were apprehended last month under Section 2(2) of the Passport Act 1960.

Additionally, Bakri reported that 165 individuals received Notices of Refusal of Entry during the same period. This group included 141 Thai citizens, nine Indians, five Cambodians, with the remainder from other nationalities. Regarding enforcement of prohibited goods, the Rantau Panjang AKPS recorded seizures and confiscations valued at approximately RM610,883 from January to yesterday.

The seizures involved legal provisions under the Customs Act 1967, the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, and the Food Act 1983. Bakri emphasized that AKPS will continue to enhance control and inspections at border gates to ensure national security, combat cross-border crime, and ensure compliance with the law by all travelers and users of international routes.