KOTA KINABALU – The reason smuggling continues to be rampant in Sabah is because such activities are planned and funded by private individuals, said Internal Security and Public Order Department director Datuk Hazani Ghazali today.
Besides bringing in essential goods and contraband items, he said, smugglers also take part in human trafficking.
“One of my missions is to end smuggling activities right down to the community level. I will do this under Op Kontraban, and it will not just involve Sabah, but the whole of Malaysia.
“There must be masterminds behind these activities. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be such high demand. All this doesn’t happen by accident.
“There must be those who do the planning and fund these smugglers,” he said at the handover of duties of the General Operations Force commander from Mohd Abduh Ismail, who is retiring, to Abdul Rani Alias.
Hazani, who is former Sabah police chief, said he will bring the matter up to the top brass, so that a targeted approach can be taken to end smuggling.
Police will continue to intensify operations against smuggling in Malaysia, especially in Sabah, he said, adding that the country loses millions of ringgit each year to such activities.
Present at the handover was state police commissioner Datuk Idris Abdullah. – The Vibes, September 13, 2021
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