In particular, is the Mota Ain area in the district of Belu, which has been reported as vulnerable to international drug trafficking because of minimum availability of detecting equipment.
Police and intelligence officials have been directed to intensify early detection of drug distribution networks in the area, but the provinces geographical location allows open access of drugs via the sea, air and land transportation routes.
Therefore, Belu district police will continue to tighten control along the border area with Timor Leste against drug smuggling, because the neighbor country is suspected of being used by international drug rings to smuggle drugs across the border to Indonesia.
Belu district police chief Adj.Sr Comr Daniel Yudo Ruhoro stated that the police on duty at the border gate will make full use of available facilities to prevent illicit trade across the border.
"All equipment and resources we have will be fully utilized to fight against smuggling drugs into the country," Daniel stated in Atambua on Monday.
He added that the district police are preparing a list of additional facilities and infrastructure needed to support police duty in the border areas.
The proposal for additional equipment will be made based on the list, he added.
He pointed out that the East Nusa Tenggara police continue to coordinate with the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and the Police Headquarters in Jakarta in the fight against international drug rings.
In the border areas, the police cooperate with other elements including the military, the immigration and customs offices, he explained.
"Each element has personnel and necessary equipment to detect illegal activities including smuggle of drugs," he elaborated, adding that the police have also warned local people not to get involved in drug smuggling.
Indonesia shares border with Timor Leste in the districts of Belu, Timor Tengah Utara (TTU), and Kupang which makes these areas prone to drug smuggling, and thus, in need of special attention.
The inter-island borders at the west end of the Flores Island can also become a central point for gaining access by a drug network.
Earlier in August 2012, four members of a Timor Leste dealer syndicate selling methamphetamine, known locally as "sabu-sabu," were arrested by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) in Kupang.
They were identified as SA, ES, MT, and HS, and were arrested while trying to ship sabu drugs from Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste, to Malaysia.
Local people have been asked to report any drug transaction or trafficking to the authorities to prevent the occurrence of cases similar to this.
The Belu district is actually in need of a regional anti-narcotic office to help prevent and combat drug circulation and smuggling in the area.
However, Belu District Head Joachim Lopez recently explained that to date, he still awaits an agreement from central government on the formation of the regional anti-narcotic office.
"We are still waiting for an agreement from the central government," Lopez noted.
He added that the presence of the anti-narcotic office in Belu was necessary because the border area with Timor Leste was considered to have been a safe area for the distribution of drugs in East Nusa Tenggara in particular and Indonesia in general.
Lopez added that when the plan to set up the regional anti-narcotic office was proposed to the central government in the past, the chief of National Narcotics Agency (BNN) visited the border area in Belu to inspect the location but there has been follow-up since then.
"We proposed the formation of the local anti-narcotic office to the central government in 2011, but it has not been implemented even now," the Belu district head explained.
According to him, East Nusa Tenggara was known as a transit point for drug smuggling from other countries.
"I hope the central government will support the regional administration by providing drug detection equipment, and setting up local anti-narcotic office," Lopez emphasized.
According to him, the border area has become a new transit point because of its many narrow, unmonitored roads that smugglers, bringing their drugs by boat, could use to transport the contraband overland.
He added that the drugs were usually smuggled by boat from Malaysia or overland from East Timor, through East Nusa Tenggara and on to Bali and Jakarta.
Lopez stated that the local authority has tried to crack down the drug circulation, but unmonitored entry points near the border with East Timor have overwhelmed the efforts.
Further, he pointed out that bordering with Timor Leste, the district of Belu needs adequate drug detection equipment and a local anti-narcotic office to drive out possible drug smugglers and dealers from the neighboring country.
He also called upon the local police to tighten security along the border area with Timor Leste, which has been suspected of being used by international drug rings across the border to East Nusa Tenggara. (*)
Reporter: Otniel Tamindael
Editor: Otniel Tamindael
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
