Prevent and Serve

THE war against illegal drugs must start from the border areas. The most remote islands bordering neighboring countries are frequently used as the entry point for contraband narcotics. These hidden channels are like red carpets to international drug syndicates smuggling in their evil goods.

When this magazine set out to investigate these vulnerable areas, we witnessed the lax security over the shipment of goods through many of the small remote islands, such as the border town in Nunukan Island and other such islands in North Kalimantan. Although X-ray machines have been set up in exit and entry points at ports and docking areas, no passengers or cargoes are checked. Some of the machines don't even function. Workers load and unload cargo in and out of boats without inspection of any kind.