Buton island base for smuggling

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: The Wangi-wangi island in the Buton regency has reportedly become a base for smuggling rice overseas, particularly to Singapore and Malaysia.

The head of the regency's information office Amir Manab said he had not received official reports but said the island had become a center for smuggling goods overseas particularly garments and electronics.

The island is in the Wakatobi islands, formerly known as the Tukang Besi islands.

"If the reports are true, related offices should handle it immediately, to avoid rice shortages in Southeast Sulawesi," Amir said.

Antara quoted sources as saying that almost every week motorboats loaded with rice headed for Singapore and Malaysia.

The sources said the smugglers were locals who acquired the rice from the regencies of Buton, Kendari, Muna and Kabupaten Kolaka, and even South Sulawesi.

Apart from buying rice from farmers sold for at least Rp 10,000 per kilogram, the sources said the rice sold overseas also included the government-subsidized rice allocated to the poor.

Regent Saidoe said the local military and police have requested an investigation into the problem.