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Keratan Akhbar Pilihan Cracking Down On Smuggling At Island
Syndicates have turned it into an entry point for undocumented migrants and contraband cigarettes from Thailand. Locals say its name comes from pirates and the...
Tumpat, 2nd September 2025 - For years, the thick jungle, rugged tracks and sharp bends of Pulau Tengkorak have fuelled eerie tales. But the real menace haunting the area is far from supernatural.
Syndicates have turned it into an entry point for undocumented migrants and contraband cigarettes from Thailand. Locals say its name comes from pirates and the Japanese army dumping skulls there decades ago.
Despite its name, Pulau Tengkorak is not an island but a strip of land between Pantai Geting and Sungai Geting. Its proximity to both sea and river, distance from the nearest General Operations Force (GOF) base, and lack of human activity - save for the occasional angler - make it a smuggler's haven.
The GOF now plans to set up a permanent base at Pulau Tengkorak, complete with a jetty along the beach, to strengthen surveillance.
GOF Southeast Brigade Commander, SAC Dato' Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab. Hamid said the move was crucial.
“The location is ideal for smugglers. It is hidden, there is no GOF post nearby, and the sea route is wide open for boats to land undetected,” he told the New Straits Times.
