Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Seven international seaports in Batam in the Sumatran province of Riau Islands are vulnerable to narcotic smuggling, the regional police chief, Brigadier General Yotje Mende, said.

"The number of illegal cases of narcotic drugs distribution through Riau Islands is quite high. Since a month ago seven international ports in Batam have turned vulnerable to narcotic smuggling," he said here on Friday.

The ports are Sekupang, Batu Ampar, Nusa Terminal Bahari, Batam Center, Marina Water Front, Harbor Bay and Telaga Punggur.

"Apart from the official international ports there are 75 other small ports in Riau Islands," he said.

Yotje said of the seven international ports Sekupang is the most vulnerable because it is busy due to shipping operation by state-owned shipping company PT Pelni, followed by Batu Ampar due to container ships operation and Batam Center.

"Among the small ports Longsam is the most vulnerable because of its location which is close to Singapore and Johor (Malaysia," he said.

In view of that he said the police have set up a P4GN which is an integrated task force to prevent and eradicate distribution and abuse of narcotic drugs.

"The P4GN includes members from the Provincial Chapter of the National Narcotic Agency (BNN) and the naval base for monitoring and investigation at sea," he said.

reporting by susylo asmalyah
(H-YH/O001)

Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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