Riau Islands' security needs tightening against drug trafficking

Indonesian law enforcement agencies in Riau Islands need to tighten maritime security in the province's waters to prevent the transnational drug crimes, People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Bambang Soesatyo has stated.

"The geographical proximity of Riau Island Province to neighboring countries has partly contributed to its vulnerability as a target for trans-border drug rings," he told journalists on the sidelines of his visit to Tanjungpinang on Friday.

Due to the seriousness of this crime, Soesatyo urged the related law enforcement agencies to intensify the surveillance of the sea lane in Riau Islands' waters.

He appreciated the success of security personnel in thwarting smuggling attempts by the cross-border drug syndicates from the sea.

"We have seen the arrest of many 'big fish'. We also collaborate with our international partners to prevent the smuggling of addictive drugs," he added.

The vulnerability of the Riau Islands to cross-border drug trafficking may be seen from the success of the police in foiling the recent smuggling attempts.

On November 16, the police stalled an attempt by a drug courier to smuggle 1.5 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine from Malaysia into the coastal city of Batam, the Riau Islands Police spokesman, Sen. Coms. S. Erlangga, revealed.

The suspect, only identified as T, was an illegal Indonesian migrant worker in Malaysia. He received the crystal meth package from a male resident of the neighboring country, Erlangga stated.

The Malaysian drug dealer, only identified as BT, had been added to the Indonesian police's wanted list, he noted.

T, who may belong to an international drug ring, was arrested shortly after arriving at Terih Beach, Sambau, in Nongsa Sub-district, Batam City, on November 14, by the police acting on a tip-off.

The police investigators confiscated two bags of crystal meth, weighing 1.5 kilograms, as well as a cellular phone and an ID card from the suspect.

Indonesia remains under grave threat from drug traffickers, as several individuals from its working-age population have become embroiled in a vicious circle.

The National Narcotics Agency's (BNN's) report on some 50 Indonesians dying of drug use daily has failed to put off addicts.

People across communities and distinct socio-economic and cultural backgrounds use crystal methamphetamine, narcotics, marijuana, and other addictive drugs. (INE)

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