Kelantan police crack down on 'tonto' tactics shielding human-smuggling networks

Police in Kota Bharu have vowed to intensify action against human-smuggling networks that employ 'tonto'—local intermediaries used to shield trafficking operations from law enforcement scrutiny. The tactic, which leverages community connections to obstruct investigations, has emerged as a significant challenge for authorities combating organised trafficking in the state. Officers say the use of intermediaries creates layers of insulation between traffickers and enforcement agencies, complicating prosecution efforts and allowing criminal networks to operate with relative impunity. Kelantan has become a focal point for human-trafficking concerns in Malaysia, with routes through the state serving regional smuggling operations. The police commitment to stricter action represents an attempt to dismantle these protective networks and expose the hierarchy of smuggling syndicates. Authorities indicated they would pursue both trafficking organisers and those facilitating their operations through intermediary roles.