Kelantan police investigate livestock drug smuggling tactics, tighten security along Thai border

Kelantan police are probing a disturbing smuggling method involving drugs hidden in cow and goat rectums. Authorities believe livestock pens are being misused as drug transit points before distribution across Malaysia and beyond.

Drugs Concealed in Livestock

Kelantan Police Chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat confirmed that authorities have received intelligence suggesting drug syndicates are concealing narcotics inside the rectums of cattle and goats. These animals are kept in livestock pens, which serve as temporary drug transit points. While no physical evidence has been confirmed, investigations are ongoing with assistance from multiple enforcement agencies.

Yusoff also revealed claims that some pen owners intentionally starve the animals of food and water for up to two weeks during quarantine. The tactic is allegedly used to prevent the animals from defecating, thereby ensuring the drugs remain undetected inside their bodies.

Smuggling Routes and Border Weak Points

Cattle are smuggled into Kelantan through two main channels: legally, with permits and quarantine procedures, or illegally via shallow rivers and narrow paths known as “rat trails”. The smuggling hotspots are concentrated between Pasir Mas and Tanah Merah, where the geography facilitates cross-border trafficking from Thailand.

Yusoff noted that these routes are frequently exploited because of the terrain’s accessibility, with syndicates often bypassing customs and veterinary checks entirely.

Cross-Agency Cooperation Intensifies

In response, Kelantan police are ramping up border surveillance, working alongside the General Operations Force, Marine Police, and the Malaysian Army. This includes continuous patrols along the 136-km-long border with Thailand, as well as intelligence sharing with Thai authorities.

“We don’t leave the border stark open,” Yusoff stressed, highlighting that fortifications and real-time coordination with neighboring law enforcement are in place to prevent further infiltration.

Kelantan’s Role in Global Drug Networks

\While drugs like syabu (methamphetamine), ganja (marijuana), and heroin are not commonly used within Kelantan, the state serves as a strategic transit hub for syndicates moving drugs to the west coast, including Kuala Lumpur, and potentially overseas. This makes the area critical in the broader fight against international drug trafficking.

Yusoff acknowledged that Kelantan remains a key gateway for illicit goods, a concern that continues to draw national and cross-border scrutiny.

Livestock Welfare and Biosecurity Concerns

Beyond criminal implications, the case raises serious animal welfare and biosecurity concerns. The alleged mistreatment of livestock for smuggling purposes could compromise Malaysia’s agricultural health standards, drawing attention from veterinary and food safety authorities.

These developments not only spotlight the ingenuity of traffickers but also the urgent need for improved inspection protocols in livestock and border management.

This evolving smuggling tactic poses complex challenges, highlighting how syndicates exploit legal trade and livestock routes to move narcotics across borders. For regions like Indonesia and Singapore, which share maritime and trade connections with Malaysia, the incident underscores the importance of regional cooperation in combating drug trafficking and safeguarding supply chains.

Sources: Malay Mail (2025) , Bernama (2025)

Keywords: Drug Smuggling, Cow Rectum, Kelantan Border, Livestock Trafficking, Malaysian Police, Pasir Mas