Kota bharu: The use of drones is more effective than conventional boat patrols in curbing smuggling activities along the Sungai Golok border, as syndicates can easily detect patrol boats operating in the narrow river, Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said. He noted that the movement and engine noise of Marine Police patrol boats can be heard from across the border, allowing smugglers to suspend their activities before enforcement personnel can act.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohd Yusoff explained that the narrowness of the river allows those on the opposite side to hear the boats approaching, deterring smuggling attempts at the time. He advocates for drone technology as a superior option for monitoring the border area until the completion of the security wall or fence on their side.
Mohd Yusoff revealed that 300 General Operations Force (GOF) personnel are deployed monthly to monitor the 91-kilometre border stretch through 17 control posts. However, he acknowledged security gaps due to the distance between posts, which can be as far as two to three kilometres and are often exploited by criminal syndicates. Changes in weather conditions, such as periods when Sungai Golok becomes shallow, have also been used by syndicates to smuggle stolen vehicles into the neighboring country.
To strengthen border surveillance, blind spots are being monitored by GOF intelligence units, while requests have been made for more advanced drones from the police (PDRM) Air Operations Unit to support integrated operations. Kelantan police are also employing artificial intelligence (AI) technology and high-tech closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems to counter syndicates that have increasingly turned to encrypted communication platforms and social media.
To enhance integrity and transparency, all enforcement personnel conducting border patrols, including Mobile Patrol Vehicle (MPV) and GOF personnel, are now required to wear body cameras. Mohd Yusoff said strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), including the buddy system during motorcycle patrols, are enforced to safeguard personnel.
He added that there had been no incidents involving physical threats, confrontations, or intimidation against personnel during the one-and-a-half years he has led the state police contingent. The police have intensified random and regular inspections along the border to ensure there is no room for the smuggling of firearms, drugs, or other illegal goods through illegal entry points in the state.