Narathiwat: Thai police plan to install barbed wire at all illegal crossing points along the Sungai Golok River, which forms the border between Malaysia and Thailand, as an initial step to strengthen security control in the area. Narathiwat Provincial police chief Maj Gen Prayong Kotsakha said the move is part of a broader effort to tighten border security.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the installation of barbed wire would be the first phase before further measures are introduced, including the construction of security walls and the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, similar to measures already implemented in several areas in Sungai Golok district. Maj Gen Prayong explained that barbed wire will be installed at locations frequently used as illegal crossing points, mirroring steps taken by Malaysian authorities.
Prayong highlighted that this measure aims to strengthen border control and curb cross-border criminal activities. He also mentioned that Thai authorities would seek feedback from villagers in affected areas before implementing the plan to avoid potential issues. He stressed the importance of close cooperation between Malaysia and Thailand to ensure effective monitoring of illegal crossing routes along the border.
Furthermore, Prayong commended Malaysian authorities for installing warning signs at several illegal crossing points along the border to alert the public to the offence of crossing the border illegally. Commenting on drug trafficking in Narathiwat province, he noted an increase in drug smuggling using courier and delivery services, with three cases detected since the end of last month in the districts of Rueso, Rangae, and Sungai Golok.
Prayong revealed that the drugs seized in these districts, which ranged from 10,000 to 500,000 Yaba pills, were believed to have been destined for Malaysia. He emphasized the challenges in taking legal action against the perpetrators, as smugglers often use other individuals' identities and provide inaccurate delivery addresses to avoid detection.
He added that most of the Yaba pills were transported from northern Thailand and temporarily stored in border districts such as Sungai Golok or Takbai before being smuggled into Malaysia. Prayong also noted that drug trafficking activities involving substances such as Yaba pills and syabu often occur in border areas to evade detection by enforcement agencies in both countries.