Drug syndicates along the Malaysia-Thailand border have been smuggling narcotics by concealing them in the rectums of livestock, the General Operations Force (GOF) has revealed.
GOF southeast brigade commander Ahmad Radzi Hussain told Berita Harian that this method, particularly along the Kelantan border, is not new, with cows and pigs used to transport drugs such as marijuana and methamphetamine.
“These drugs are usually brought from countries in the Golden Triangle into Thailand, and syndicates then hide them inside livestock to move through the rat trails along the Kelantan border,” he explained. Radzi noted that traffickers exploit enforcement officers’ hesitancy to inspect livestock, especially pigs.
During the monsoon season, syndicates also transport drugs across the swollen Sungai Golok, tying sacks to ropes and pulling them from one riverbank to another, particularly in Rantau Panjang and Tumpat.
From January to yesterday, the brigade seized drugs worth approximately RM8.3 million, recording 281 drug-related cases and 236 arrests. The most seized drug was crystal meth at 200kg, followed by marijuana at 108.6kg and 19,500 meth pills.
The porous border, especially around Sungai Golok, remains a major corridor for smuggling, with traffickers exploiting dense forests, narrow river terrain, and numerous illegal crossings to evade enforcement.
Authorities have stepped up efforts in recent years, including closing unauthorized jetties and land routes, reducing some flows of contraband. Despite these measures, traffickers continue to adapt, using livestock, smaller consignments, and shallow riverbanks to transport drugs.
Border districts such as Pasir Mas, Tumpat, Jeli, and Tanah Merah remain persistent smuggling hubs, with local economic hardship contributing to ongoing involvement in illicit activities.
