How Malaysia’s smuggling crackdown is changing life on its border with Thailand

186

0 December 30, 2025 20:15

Malaysia’s Kelantan state and Thailand’s Narathiwat province are separated by the narrow Golok River – a border that for years has been crossed illegally by villagers ferrying goods, visiting family and doing business.

But with drugs and firearms also flowing through these informal routes, Malaysia has cracked down on these crossings, demolishing illegal jetties, tightening enforcement and unsettling residents on both sides.

CNA visited both sides of the Golok River to hear their story: https://cna.asia/4q9WFhy

Subscribe to our channel here: https://cna.asia/youtubesub

Visit our website: https://cna.asia
Download our app: https://cna.asia/app

Get our editors’ picks of stories via chat apps:
Telegram: https://cna.asia/telegram
WhatsApp: https://cna.asia/whatsapp

Follow us on these platforms:
https://www.facebook.com/channelnewsasia
https://www.instagram.com/channelnewsasia
https://www.tiktok.com/@channelnewsasia