The Maritime Police Unit (UPM) of the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) bought two (2) new speedboats to facilitate maritime patrol operations and control illegal activities at sea.
The PNTL General Commander, Commissioner Henrique da Costa, said that until now, the UPM had been conducting patrols primarily along coastal areas due to the lack of boats to operate in deeper waters.
“We now have two speedboats to facilitate maritime patrol operations and prevent illegal activities,” he said.
He added that the two speedboats were bought with funds from the 2024 state budget, totalling $137,000, to support UPM’s patrol operations across Timor-Leste’s territorial waters.
“We are confident that these two speedboats will enhance the Maritime Police Unit’s ability to monitor illegal activities at sea,” emphasised Commissioner Costa.
He highlighted that one of the two intervention speedboats will be stationed in Beasu to support UPM operations, while the other will be assigned to the Diving Section for conducting missions at sea and controlling the movement of individuals involved in smuggling activities.
“These speedboats will also be used to monitor foreign nationals involved in illegal transactions between Timor-Leste and other countries. We hope that UPM officers stationed at posts can increase their vigilance and help prevent organised crimes like drug trafficking,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the UPM Commander, Police Superintendent Eugénio Pereira, said that the two speedboats would be allocated for the Search and Rescue section and stationed at Beasu Post to support UPM missions at sea.
“Through the Maritime Police Unit’s management, we will allocate resources according to the two speedboats we have received, prioritising deployment to the Search and Rescue section and the Beasu post,” he said.
He further explained that these resources aim to strengthen the unit’s capacity and increase surveillance activities at sea, particularly for monitoring the maritime boundary.
“In today’s world, combating crime at sea is challenging, but as a state, especially regarding security missions, we remain committed and will continue our efforts through various means to prevent crimes from occurring in Timor-Leste’s waters,” he emphasised.
He also mentioned that, despite facing various challenges, the UPM remains dedicated to carrying out its missions using available resources and facilities to effectively monitor and control illegal activities within Timor-Leste’s maritime territory.
