PADANG BESAR: Perlis police will ensure that tourist hotspots in the state are safe, to reassure all visitors and residents ahead of Visit Perlis Year 2024-2025.
State police chief Datuk Muhammad Abdul Halim said for that purpose, its contingent launched an integrated crime prevention and smuggling operation for the administrative area of Padang Besar today, before expanding it to other areas in stages.
"For this phase, the focus is on the Padang Besar area first, because it is the main entry point between Perlis and the neighbouring country, and a large amount of cargo also passes through Padang Besar.
"For other areas, we will expand (the operation) in stages," he told reporters after launching the integrated operation, at the Padang Besar district police headquarters, here today.
He said the daily assignment for the operation would involve 150 personnel from the police, as well as other agencies such as the Customs Department, the Immigration Department, the Road Transport Department, the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) and the Kangar Municipal Council (MPK).
"Our operation has been carried out smoothly today, and we will inform the public when the operation will end.
"It all depends on the performance and the impact of this operation," he said.
Meanwhile, Muhammad said migrant smuggling activities are believed to occur during the holiday season, with the smugglers and agents taking the opportunity to bring in migrants during busy periods.
He said there were 21 cases related to the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (Atipsom) 2007 recorded in Perlis from January to November this year. --BERNAMA
