Having A Long Coastline, BNN Reveals The Belitung Sea Route Is Often Access To Drug Smuggling

BELITUNG - The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) of Belitung Regency stated that the sea route in the area is prone to smuggling and illicit drug trafficking.

This was conveyed by the Head of BNN Belitung, Nasrudin, at the commemoration of the 2022 International Anti-Narcotics Day in Tanjung Pandan, Riau Islands, quoted from Antara, Monday 27 June.

"We, together with law enforcement agencies and all components, maximize surveillance in the waterways or the Belitung Sea because they are quite vulnerable as access to smuggling and illicit drug trafficking", said Nasrudin.

He said the vulnerability of the sea route in Belitung was evidenced by the disclosure of several drug trafficking cases, most of which were supplied from outside the region by sea.

According to him, the potential for smuggling and illicit drug trafficking through the sea route in Belitung is quite high because it is an area with a fairly long coastline.

"The potential for people who want to make Belitung a drug market must come from outside Belitung and the route we must be aware of is through water or sea routes", he said.

He said, to prevent the smuggling and illicit trafficking of drugs through the sea route, they would increase cross-sectoral synergies with related agencies. "Among them are Customs and Excise, the Navy, and Satpolairud and all stakeholders who have main duties and functions in the territorial waters, we invite together to handle and solve this problem", he said.

He added that apart from that, his party is also aware of the potential vulnerability to smuggling and illicit drug trafficking in the area by land and air.

"We continue to map and anticipate potential vulnerabilities", he said.