Indonesian authorities on Wednesday detained a Timorese couple who tried to enter Indonesia via the land border with East Timor in Motaain with 4,874 tablets, allegedly ecstasy.
“They were passengers who were entering. We inspected what they had on the x-ray and found the drug. It was in a plastic bag inside a printer,” explained the customs official of Atambua, Tribuana Wetangterah.
According to the Indonesian news agency Antara, the drug was in several plastic bags. It remains unknown whether the substance was manufactured in East Timor, or if it had entered Timor-Leste from another source and was simply being transported onward to Indonesia.
Motaain: A Key Land Border Crossing
The Motaain border crossing is the main land gateway between Timor-Leste and the Indonesian province of West Timor. It is a busy checkpoint for travellers, traders, and goods moving between the two countries, and Indonesian customs officers conduct regular screening of passengers and luggage.
Serious Consequences Under Indonesian Law
The couple are currently being questioned by Indonesian authorities. Drug trafficking in Indonesia carries some of the harshest penalties in the world, including lengthy prison terms and, in serious cases, the death penalty. The case is a reminder of the strict enforcement applied at all entry points into Indonesian territory.