Member of the National Parliament MP Cesar Valente said illegal drugs could be easily smuggled into Timor-Leste given border security along the country’s land borders are too porous.
The MP added the Timorese border police is not able to cover the full extent of Timor-Leste’s land borders during its operations leaving certain spots vulnerable to drug smugglers to traffic drugs into the country.
“The border is so large that some areas cannot be patrolled by the police making it easy for people to smuggle,” said MP Valente at the National Parliament, in Dili.
In response to the concerns, the Commander of the Criminal Investigation Service (CIS), of the National Police PNTL Inspector Ludgerio Lay agreed with MP Valente’s assessment but that this reality is due to lack of human resources across the institution.
“Drugs are mostly smuggled into the country through the border due to uncontrolled border areas,” said Commander Lay.
The Commander said however that CIS will cooperate with the Timorese Defence Force (F-FDTL) through the Zota 2 Operation and the National Security Institute (INS) of the PNTL to continue to attempt to prevent drugs entering and being sold in the country.
“We are pursuing smugglers so that we can prevent such issues happening in future,” said Commander Lay.
The commander added that CIS often conducts drugs operations in the country.
