Perlis customs department director Ismail Hashim said the RM150,000 boat was stolen on Jan 13. The ropes securing it to the jetty were found severed.

“We believe a smuggling syndicate attempted to retrieve their boat, which was previously seized, from the jetty area,” he said in a Berita Harian report.

“However, the water level at the jetty was low at that time and their boat was stuck in a muddy area. So they decided to steal our boat instead and return to Thailand.”

He said Thai authorities found the boat at a river in Tambon Tammalang, Satun, on Jan 16, some 30km from the customs department’s jetty in Kuala Perlis.

Ismail said the theft is believed to be connected to a series of seizures made by his department in their drive against those smuggling ketum and drugs.

He said the stolen boat was found in good condition. He believes that the smugglers intended to modify the boat before selling it together with its engine.

Ismail said a police report had been lodged. An internal investigation concluded that no customs officers or local fishermen were involved in the theft of the boat.