Children paid runners at Malaysia-Thai border

Children paid runners at Malaysia-Thai border

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): School children as young as nine years old
are being used as runners by smuggling syndicates along the
Malaysian border with Thailand, the national news agency reported
on Monday.

Fakrullah Zakaria, Malaysia's border patrol general operations
commander, said that the youngsters, between nine to 17 years of
age, were like an "army of ants" collecting items like rice and
drugs to leave at drop-off points along the Golok River, which
divides the countries.

His remarks to the Bernama news agency come amid increased
efforts to stem smuggling of drugs, illegal immigrants and
contraband, with Malaysia planning to build watch towers along
the 154-kilometer border, reinforcing a fence constructed in
1996. Soldiers from both armies will also resume joint patrols in
March.

Villagers who live by the Golok River earn their living by
ferrying visitors, many who deal with contraband goods, illegally
across the river.