Dili, July 28, 2026 (Media Democracia) – The Timor-Leste National Police through the Maritime Police Unit, the Criminal Investigation Service Directorate together with the Migration Service, F-FDTL and Officials from the Public Prosecutor’s Office have seized contraband goods at the Dili port after Local Community, PNTL Baucau and F-FDTL arrested and captured 6 Chinese citizens who were using the Indonesian flag to bring illegal goods into Seical, Laga, Baucau Municipality on Sunday (26/07).
The 6 Chinese citizens used the Indonesian flag to transport contraband goods such as cigarettes, more than 1 container, including oil.
At this time, the PNTL have secured the citizens along with the cigarettes and other evidence. At around 11:00 today, the ship named _Famara Jaya Utama_ left Baucau and docked at the Port of Dili. The DSIK team and PJR Officers have secured the evidence and will present it to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The ship named _Famara Jaya Utama_ with the RI flag was carrying more than 1 container of illegal cigarettes with brands such as: C15, C14, C11, C29, C17, C26, C12, E8, C24. Right now the UMP with the Naval Component of the Timor-Leste Defense Force (F-FDTL), Migration Service (SM) and other teams have unloaded the illegal cigarettes.
According to a secret source, the ship has the Indonesian flag but there were no Indonesian citizens on board. It was Chinese nationals who used it to transport these goods.
“We saw the ship with the Indonesian flag flying on top, but inside there were mostly Chinese citizens, and inside the ship there were almost 1 full container of illegal cigarettes.” said the secret source at the Port of Dili, Monday (27/07).
He informed that the cigarettes smuggled into Timor are expensive and usually Chinese people and foreigners are the ones who smoke them.
Meanwhile, this news was published before there was confirmation from the PNTL Spokesperson because currently the PNTL Spokesperson, Chief Superintendent of Police João Belo dos Reis is on a work trip in Bali, Indonesia.
Report By: Estefánia Cardoso
Photo: Estefánia Cardoso