Five men, including two Thai nationals, were detained by border forces for entering Malaysia illegally via a river route near Pasir Mas.

KOTA BHARU: The General Operations Force arrested five men for entering Malaysia via an illegal route along the banks of Sungai Kampung Tok Rusa near Pasir Mas.

Southeast Brigade Commander SAC Ahmad Radzi Hussain said the men, aged between 31 and 45, were detained at about 8.30 pm yesterday by a strike force team during an operation.

He stated that personnel detected a boat carrying the five men approaching from Sungai Golok at the Thailand border before they disembarked on the riverbank.

Checks revealed that three of the individuals were locals, while the other two were Thai nationals believed to be the boatmen who ferried them across the river.

Initial investigations found that the three local men had entered Thailand to buy cattle for the upcoming Aidiladha celebration, paying RM2 each for the boat ride.

Urine screening conducted by the Pasir Mas district police narcotics division found that all five men tested negative for drugs.

They were detained for entering Malaysia via an illegal route, with the case being investigated under Section 5(2) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

Also seized in the operation were a fibre boat and a Honda GX270 engine, estimated to be worth RM15,000.

 The Sun Malaysia