At Night, Pamtas Task Force Thwarts Sandalwood Smuggling From Timor Leste

The personnel of the Indonesian-RDTL Pamtas Task Force East Sector Pos Lakmars secure three sandalwood sacks (Photo Antara)

JAKARTA - The RI-RDTL Eastern Sector Border Security Task Force managed to thwart the smuggling of three sandalwood sacks from Timor Leste to Indonesia. The smuggling was carried out by means of rats in Lakmaras Tas Hamlet, Lakmaras Village, South Lamaknen District, Belu Regency, East Nusa Tenggara.

Infantry Battalion 742/SWY Commander Lieutenant Colonel Bayu Sigit Dwi Untoro as Commander of the East Sector Pamtas Task Force, said the process of foiling the smuggling of three sacks filled with sandalwood was carried out on Friday (18/9) night.

"The success of this member was when members at the Lakmars Post were conducting routine patrols to monitor the locations of the 'rat' lanes in the border area," said Lieutenant Colonel Bayu as quoted by Antara.

During a routine patrol until that afternoon, they saw three suspicious people carrying sacks on a "rat street" south of the Lakmars Post.

"The members then approached the three people, but when they wanted to, they immediately fled to the Timor Leste border and left their luggage," explained Bayu Sigit.

The Pamtas Task Force personnel gave chase. However, the three carriers of the contraband fled to Timor Leste without carrying the sacks they had previously carried, making it difficult for the authorities to pursue them.

The Pamtas Task Force personnel then checked the contents of the sack, and upon inspection they found sandalwood to be smuggled into Indonesia.

"Alhamdulillah, the members immediately secured the items as evidence at the post and later they will be collected at the Mako Task Force," he said.

The Commander of the Task Force Lieutenant Colonel Bayu Sigit also continues to appeal and instruct all Wira Yudha Sejati Soldiers who are in their ranks to be vigilant and continue to actively carry out joint patrols by inviting relevant agencies and the local community to prevent all forms of crime that can harm the state, both to border crossers. as well as smuggling.

"Let's prevent together all forms of crime in the border areas of the two countries, both out and into Indonesia, with the hope that the border areas remain safe and under control," he concluded.