Government of Timor-Leste

The Minister of Justice, Dionísio Babo Soares, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, José Luís Guterres, and the Secretary of State for Security, Francisco Guterres, met on 24 April, 2013 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation to discuss ways and means of prevention against traffic and consumption of drugs in Timor-Leste.

After the meeting, the Minister of Justice informed that “we are aware of the fact that trafficking in drugs is starting to have place in Timor-Leste. We were analyzing preventives measures that we could take, like a good cooperation with our neighbouring countries, such as Indonesia, Australia, Singapura and Malaysia, to fight the entry of drugs through the border.

The Minister of Justice also added that, “unless preventive measures are taken, this problem may have a negative impact on our country, particularly on the youth, who are starting to get involved with the crime of trafficking in drugs, thereby compromising their future”.

The same Minister also informed that the Ministry of Justice counts on the collaboration of the Criminal Investigation Police whose members have attended a training course in Portugal in the areas of drug-related crime and fight against drug.