Indonesian Police Dismantle Vehicle Smuggling Gang in Timor-Leste – Lusa Business News, Alliance of Mediterranean News Agencies

Indonesian police dismantled a vehicle smuggling network operating along the border with Timor-Leste, arresting six suspects and seizing 17 vehicles in a coordinated raid near the Oecusse enclave, authorities confirmed on April 5, 2026. The operation, led by the West Timor Regional Police in Kupang, targeted a syndicate accused of illegally importing second-hand vehicles from Malaysia and Singapore through maritime routes before rerouting them overland into Timor-Leste to evade customs duties and taxes. Police said the gang used falsified documentation and altered chassis numbers to disguise the vehicles’ origins. According to a statement from the Indonesian National Police, the seized vehicles included 12 pickup trucks, four SUVs and one minivan, all manufactured between 2018 and 2023. Investigators traced the network’s activities over six months using surveillance, informant tips, and digital forensics from intercepted communications. Timor-Leste’s customs office in Oecusse confirmed it had detected anomalies in vehicle import declarations since January but lacked the authority to pursue suspects across the border. Indonesian authorities said they acted under a bilateral agreement on cross-border crime signed in 2022, which allows joint patrols and intelligence sharing in the Oecusse-Ambeno region. No Timor-Leste nationals were among those arrested. The six suspects, all Indonesian citizens aged between 28 and 45, remain in police custody in Kupang pending prosecution under Article 18 of Indonesia’s Customs Law, which carries penalties of up to six years imprisonment and fines equivalent to twice the evaded tax value. Indonesian police said the investigation is ongoing and may lead to further arrests as they trace the financial backers of the network. Timor-Leste’s Ministry of Finance has not issued a public statement on the case. The next scheduled bilateral security meeting between the two countries is set for May 15, 2026, in Dili, where border enforcement protocols are expected to be reviewed.