Security in the areas along the border between the Republic of Indonesia (RI) and its neighboring country of Papua New Guinea (PNG) must be tightened to prevent drug smuggling.
The RI-PNG border remains prone to drug smuggling, although some suspected individuals illegally crossing the border have been arrested.
Security officials have frequently arrested people possessing marijuana while attempting to illegally cross the PNG border to enter Jayapura, Papuas provincial capital; however, drug smuggling activities continue to thrive along the border.
"The lack of available personnel and the vast Papuan territory pose challenges in preventing the entry of drugs into the region, especially from the border," Head of the National Narcotics Agency of Papua Brigadier General Sukirman stated in Jayapura on Thursday.
Sukirman noted that the border area serves as a gateway for the entry of drugs into the Indonesian territory, as the two countries share borders in land and at sea.
According to Sukirman, drug smugglers often conduct transactions on boat at sea, or take an alternative road also called "jalan tikus" to smuggle drugs into Papua.
"Abepantai, Hamadi, and Dok IX are the locations where they shore their boats," Sukirman said.
Therefore, the agency, in cooperation with the respective institutions and law enforcers, is implementing more effective measures to prevent drug smuggling.
The agency had also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indonesian Military and the National Police on the prevention of drug smuggling.
He remarked that the agency has deployed 11 additional personnel this year to intensify its operations in the easternmost region of Indonesia.
"They have been assigned the task of mapping the entry gates used for drug smuggling and the areas where the drugs are smuggled," Sukirman revealed.
As the problem of drug smuggling is spiraling out of control, hence numerous prominent Papua community figures in Jayapura have urged the central government to tighten security arrangements along the border.
"We have urged the government to tighten security along the border with PNG," Skow Mabo community figure Yans Mahil Mallo said on Tuesday.
Mallo noted that such incidents often occur, thereby triggering anxiety among the local community.
He stated that several local figures from four villages located near the PNG border had committed to helping the authorities prevent drug trafficking in order to safeguard Papuas younger generation.
Hanock Rollo, another local community figure, also expressed concern over the problem of drug trafficking across the Skow (RI)-Wutung (PNG) border.
Drug traffickers had misused their red cards (instead of passports) needed to cross the border.
"I think it is the responsibility of the authorities to address the problem. We just give them information," he said, adding that he was concerned that the situation might worsen after the Skow model market was realized.
The Skow market is strategically located near the border with PNG, and thus, it is prone to drug smuggling from the neighboring country.
Stringent measures need to be implemented to stop smuggling activities involving drugs and other items along the border areas between the Indonesian easternmost province of Papua and PNG.