Indonesia has stepped up monitoring travellers, especially those from China and Malaysia, in an effort to fight the illegal transport and trade of drugs.

The move aims to prevent the smuggling of drugs into Jakarta in particular and Indonesia in general, said Okto Irianto, head of the customs and special consumption office at Soekarno-Hatta international airport.

In its recent report, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) warned Indonesia against a risk of an expanded drug market in the country, with Asia already considered the world’s largest source of drugs, he added.

Malaysia is often the source of drugs entering into Indonesia, as the two countries share a land border in Kalimantan.

According to statistics from the airport’s office, 52 drug trafficking cases have been detected so far this year, with officials seizing 41.6 kg of methamphetamine worth 4.6 million USD. The airport’s officers arrested 31 Indonesians and 21 others from Malaysia, China, Taiwan (China), Hong Kong (China), Thailand, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and Uganda.

VNA