‘Intel unit helps to check cross-border crime’

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BUKIT KAYU HITAM: The Border Intelligence Unit (BIU) at the Malaysian-Thai border, set up by the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman last year, has seen a string of successes against cross-border crime.

Since the BIU, under Bukit Aman’s Criminal Investigation Department was set up, its intelligence network has been intensified at areas suspected to he haunts of cross-border criminals.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the BIU’s arrests of cross-border criminals and seizures of firearms and drugs had increased tremendously.

“The increase in arrests and seizures is due to the close cooperation with our partners in Thailand (security personnel) which has enhanced intelligence (network),” he told reporters at the Bukit Kayu Hitam police station here yesterday, after officially launching the northern region’s BIU command base here.

The BIU has 28 members and is headed by a deputy superintendent of police.

It is aimed at specifically thwarting gun-running, shipment of stolen Malaysian vehicles, human trafficking and track down fugitives.

Earlier in his speech, Khalid said in 2010, a total of 92 people were arrested in connection with the seizure of 137 firearms.

The following year, 121 suspectes were nabbed and 160 firearms seized, followed by 163 suspects/199 firearms in 2012; and, 287 suspects/292 firearms last year.

In another development, the IGP confirmed that some Malaysians were involved in militant activities and the police were investigating the matter.

He was responding to claims that 15 Malaysians involved in terrorism and jihad activities with a militant group in the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, a group that split from the al-Qaeda, had been killed in Syria.  — Bernama