Perak police propose establishing up to 10 permanent General Operations Force posts along the state coastline to curb cross-border crime and migrant smuggling.
MANJUNG: Perak police have proposed setting up up to 10 permanent General Operations Force (GOF) control posts along the state’s coastline to strengthen security and curb cross-border crime.
Perak deputy police chief DCP Mohammad Azlin Sadari said the proposal covered four districts, namely Manjung, Bagan Datuk, Taiping and Kerian, where strategic maritime entry points had been identified.
He said the state’s extensive coastline and remote areas, particularly around river estuaries and mangrove forests, could be exploited by syndicates to carry out illegal landings.
“Tighter enforcement following the addition of GOF posts in Selangor and Johor is believed to have led syndicates to shift their operations to alternative routes through Perak.
“Selangor currently has 20 PGA control posts and Johor 22, while Perak has only one post to monitor its approximately 158-kilometre coastline,” he told a press conference at the Manjung District Police Headquarters (IPD) here today.
Mohammad Azlin said the rise in arrests of illegal immigrants in Perak highlighted the need for stronger coastal security, with the number of detainees rising from 323 in 2024 to 419 in 2025, a 29.72 per cent increase.
He added that the number of detainees had risen sharply, with 728 people detained as of August this year, 73.75 per cent more than the total recorded throughout last year.
Mohammad Azlin said the relevant district land offices had, as of July, confirmed that the proposed sites for the control posts were on government land, while the necessary application documents and site gazettement approvals had been submitted to Bukit Aman for final approval.
“As a short-term measure, a large-scale integrated operation to crack down on illegal immigrants in Manjung was launched on Sept 1, involving the GOF, while as a long-term measure, we are proposing the deployment of a GOF platoon at each new control post,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said police had arrested 384 individuals in 11 operations to curb migrant smuggling between January and September this year.
Of those arrested, Mohammad Azlin said 377 were Indonesians, including nine children, two were Bangladeshi nationals and five were locals believed to have played key roles in the migrant smuggling syndicate.
“Eleven investigation papers were opened, and 320 individuals were charged under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 and the Immigration Act 1959/63,” he said.
Mohammad Azlin said four suspected victims of human trafficking, comprising two Myanmar boys and two Indian men believed to have been exploited for forced labour, were rescued in two operations conducted by the Manjung IPD during the same period.
He said the operations also resulted in the arrest of three locals suspected of involvement in human trafficking activities and 13 Myanmar nationals for failing to produce valid travel documents and entry permits.
In a related development, Mohammad Azlin said police foiled an attempt to smuggle out 5.8 kg of suspected methamphetamine worth RM185,600 during an operation on Aug 18.
An Indonesian man was arrested and later charged under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 at the Pantai Remis Magistrate’s Court on Aug 28, he said.
