REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PONTIANAK -- Drug smugglers have been using the Indonesia-Malaysia border in West Kalimantan, adjacent to Sarawak in Malaysia, to push drugs and other smuggled goods, West Kalimantan police chief, Inspector General Musyafak, said here on Monday. "This illegal route has become prone to smuggling of drugs and other goods," Musyafak added.

West Kalimantan police commands five police precincts in border areas, namely Sambas, Bengkayang, Sanggau, Sintang and Kapuas Hulu. These precincts cover 14 sub-districts, 98 villages with 52 illegal routes, and 55 villages bordering 22 Malaysian kampongs. Musyafak noted that Indonesian and Malaysian agencies have made many attempts to curb smuggling. "We have been invited to Kuching to participate in a joint meeting next week to address the issue."

Earlier, the police had arrested two Malaysians, namely, Khong Yiau Hieng, 35 and Lee Sing Chua, 33, for allegedly smuggling 18 kilograms of methamphetamine into Pontianak. "The two Malaysians were arrested in a raid at a rented house in Pontianak on Sunday, November 6, at 17.20 hrs local time," Musyafak revealed.

"We have been investigating the case for the past one and a half months to uncover the drugs smuggling racket, and made the arrests after we had clinching evidence," he disclosed.

The drugs were concealed in two spare car tires and were allegedly smuggled through one of the 52 illegal paths connecting villages in West Kalimantan and Malaysia. The police identified the suspected buyer of drugs as one Darmadi, 55, but he managed to escape when his house in West Pontianak district was raided. "The suspect managed to escape but dumped three big bags containing some 24,000 Happy Five pills," Musyafak informed.

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