Malaysia Moves to Seal Thai Frontier Over Transnational Crime Concerns

Malaysia Moves to Seal Thai Frontier Over Transnational Crime Concerns

Kuala Lumpur, Feb. 13, 2026 — Malaysia has begun installing barbed wire fencing along illegal river crossings on its border with Thailand, in what officials say is part of a broader effort to curb cross-border crimes including smuggling, human trafficking and online scam operations.

Kelantan state police said the first 1.5-kilometre stretch of concertina wire is being installed along the Golok River between Rantau Panjang and the Pos Ibrahim Pencen security post, opposite Sungai Kolok district in Thailand’s Narathiwat province.

Authorities said the fencing will cover 26 previously dismantled illegal jetties and crossing points. The project, funded by Malaysia’s federal government at a cost of 100,000 ringgit ($21,000), is expected to be completed before Ramadan begins next week.

Security officials say the porous river boundary has long been used for drug trafficking and contraband smuggling. In recent years, regional authorities have also linked parts of Thailand’s southern border areas to online scam networks targeting victims across Asia.

Thailand has intensified crackdowns on cybercrime and cross-border fraud syndicates, particularly in border regions where criminal groups exploit weak oversight and informal crossings.

Malaysia and Thailand conduct joint patrols and intelligence sharing, but the new fencing underscores growing regional concern over transnational crime flows along the frontier.