The Star quoted Deputy Inspector-General of Police Noor Rashid Ibrahim as saying that the local man, in his 30s, was believed to be in Thailand, together with his accomplices.

Noor Rashid said the police knew the identities of the suspects and would seek the help of the Thai police to trace the fugitives.

Anisa Ali, 54, and her two male colleagues were chasing two vans suspected of being laden with smuggled cigarettes at Kampung Banggol Chicha in Pasir Mas, when a four-wheel-drive vehicle, driven by a tonto working for the smuggling syndicate, rammed the enforcers’ vehicle from the rear.

This caused the Customs vehicle to skid and crash into a tree.

Anisah succumbed to her injuries at the Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital. The case has been classified as murder.