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.