East Timor a future drug paradise?

Indonesia has a law on narcotics and psychotropic drugs and has ratified the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs in 1961. It means that besides having a law to protect its people from the danger of narcotics and illegal psychotropic drugs, it also has the obligation to prevent illegal exports of narcotics and psychotropic products to other countries. It applies to domestically produced narcotics like ganja and cannabis and narcotics and psychotropic products smuggled into Indonesia from other countries.

In the next five years, it is predicted that East Timor will become a paradise for illegal trading of narcotics and psychotropic products.

It is highly possible to plant opium (papaver somniferum), coca (erythro-xylon coca) and ganja (cannabis indica/sativa) in East Timor. Narcotics such as heroin and psychotropic products like amphetamines and their derivatives will enter East Timor to be smuggled into Indonesia or Australia.

The question is who will oversee efforts to stop distribution of narcotics and psychotropic products. What measures will be taken against people who trade in or plant ganja in the region?

At present, Indonesia and Australia do not need to worry about the possibility of drug smuggling because troops from the United Nations International Force for East Timor (Interfet), with their strong purchasing power, will be the main target of the drug dealers.

My suggestion is that Indonesia's law enforcers keep alert to the possibility of these prohibited goods entering Indonesia via East Timor.

SUNARTO PRAWIROSUJANTO

Jakarta