Patkor Kastima (joint custom patrol) is aimed at improving law enforcement..."Batam (ANTARA News) - Indonesian General of Customs and Excise and the Malaysian Custom Office will be organizing the 19th Indonesia-Malaysia joint coordination Custom Patrol (Patkor Kastima).
Indonesian Custom and Excise Director General Agung Kuswandono said the joint coordination patrol would be carried out in two phases - the first phase will be carried out in Batam, Indonesia, from September 2 to 15, and the next phase will be carried out in Johor, Malaysia, from October 22 to November 4.
"Patkor Kastima (joint custom patrol) is aimed at improving law enforcement and customs acts of the two countries, and establishing mutual understanding and cooperation between the two custom offices in sea patrol implementation, in both coordinated patrol and routine sea patrols," added Agung.
Besides, the coordination patrol can also be a preventive and repressive way to obstruct, deter, and eliminate illegal trade and smuggling of drugs and psychotropic substances that may have a negative impact on both the countries.
Chairman of the Malaysian Custom Office Datok Sri Khazali bin Haji Ahmad said cooperation between the two countries in terms of information exchange can help reduce drug trafficking in Malaysia and Indonesia.
The chairman of Malaysian Customs explained that the border of Indonesia and Malaysian waters is long and has a lot of shortcuts, which is why both the countries should increase cooperation and security measures to prevent drug trafficking. "Drug trafficking is difficult to handle," he said.
Malaysian Customs has deployed 70 personnel and seven ships for the joint exercise, while Indonesia has sent about 100 personnel and nine ships.
After the joint exercise, the two countries will also conduct a bilateral meeting in Lombok this year.
(T.A50/Uu.H-YH/KR-BSR)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
