{
  "id": 656158,
  "title": "12 undocumented migrants intercepted in Kelantan, 2 'tekong darat' held",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/12-undocumented-migrants-intercepted-in-kelantan-2-tekong-darat-held",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-12T10:56:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/regional/2026/08/1509783/12-undocumented-migrants-intercepted-kelantan-2-tekong-darat-held"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "TUMPAT: In a joint operation by the General Operations Force (GOF), two attempts to smuggle undocumented migrants into Kelantan were thwarted this morning. The raids, conducted under Operation Taring Wawasan Kelantan, led to the arrest of two Malaysian men suspected of acting as tekong darat during the operations. A special task force from the Seventh Battalion was involved in the early morning raids.\n\nThe first case was discovered around 5am when a GOF team spotted a suspected Perodua Alza vehicle traveling from Tumpat towards Tanah Merah. The vehicle was halted near Masjid Ismaili in Kampung Paloh. Inside, seven Myanmar nationals were found - four men and three women - believed to have entered the country illegally.\n\nThe second incident occurred at 6:10am when a suspected Honda City traveling from Pasir Mas to Tanah Merah was intercepted near Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Panau. The driver fled the scene but was subsequently apprehended. Five individuals were found in the vehicle - four men from Myanmar and a woman from Thailand - without valid travel documents.\n\nBoth Malaysian drivers, aged 28 and 57, were arrested. The detained migrants - a total of 12 - are currently held for further investigation. During the operations, two vehicles, 17 mobile phones, and RM1,405 in cash were seized, with an estimated total value of RM150,000. The younger driver tested positive for amphetamine, while the older driver tested negative.\n\nInitial investigations revealed that both drivers claimed this was their second time transporting undocumented migrants. One claimed receiving RM600 per delivery, while the other was paid RM300 per trip. The syndicates, it seems, were coordinated by agents based in Kuala Lumpur, with payments made in cash upon each successful delivery.\n\nThe migrants are believed to have been transported to Johor, Perak, and other locations to work as laborers and farmers. The anti-trafficking and anti-smuggling laws are being invoked in this case, and the suspects will be handed over to the Tanah Merah district police for further action.",
  "summary": "TUMPAT: The General Operations Force (GOF) foiled two attempts to smuggle 12 undocumented migrants into Kelantan in separate raids in Tanah Merah early today.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}