West Papua is vulnerable to the smuggling of bootleg liquor, says West Papua Police chief Brig. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw.
"Not only liquor, but [West Papua] the waters have also been prone to the smuggling of hashish and drugs from neighboring countries," Paulus said as quoted by Antara news agency.
He said it was the duty of the police to bolster surveillance to prevent the illegal activity.
"The West Papua waters are strategically located on the domestic and international trade lanes, such that oversight has to be improved there," he said.
In 2014 the Manokwari Police foiled an attempt to smuggle hundreds of bottles of bootleg liquor by boat. Paulus said the police had also managed to foil a number of drug-smuggling attempts.