DILI, 31 august 2021 (TATOLI) – The Timorese National Police (PNTL), through Maritime Police Unit (UPM), arrested five men for illegally importing 40 cardboards of tree tobacco, locally known as Joker or in the Indonesian language called Pohon Sagu.
After an intense police operation at around 2 a.m. local time, the team of UPM arrested four men at the scene, in the area of Dolok-Oan, near the Cristo Rei statue, in Dili, when unloading the goods off the boat.
While, the three other men, including the owner of the goods, the captain of the boat, and another member were escaped the police and were on the run, but later on at around 11.45 a.m. the boss and the mastermind of the illegal activity, who was known with initial as CSM was arrested by UPM.
The criminals left Atatupu, in Atambua, Indonesia, at around 6 p.m. and arrived in Dili at around 02.49 a.m. local time. Among the men, including two Indonesian nationals, originally from Atatupu, while the four other criminals were Timorese citizens who live in Tasi-Tolu, Dili.
At the crime scene, PNTL seized a small boat, a truck, a mini truck, a motorbike, 40 cardboards of tree tobacco, and one machete belong to the group.
The spokesperson of PNTL, Superintendent Arnaldo de Araujo, informed that the five men would be handed over to the Public Prosecutors to be subjected to the legal process.
In addition, the Commander of the UPM, Superintendent Basilio de Jesus revealed that within the month of august, CSM and his members had been committed eight times importing goods to Timor-Leste illegally: “This this the eighth times they committed such illegal activities and we successfully arrested them for the first time, since they committed the same crime for several times prior this.”
De Jesus said he had contacted the Indonesian authorities regarding the two Indonesian nationals: “About the deportation of the two young men will be depended on to the law.”
De Jesus added CSM had become the person of interest of PNTL since a year ago.
“Police will continue searching for the two other men who escaped UPM’s operation this morning,” said De Je
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges Rosario
