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aw enforcers in South Sulawesi are stepping up security measures within their respective jurisdictions in an effort to intercept and halt the activities of international drug syndicates that are thought to have targeted the province for major smuggling operations.

Such measures were initiated after local police foiled two separate attempts to smuggle a total of 11 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine into the province from Malaysia last week through boat shipment and package delivery.

On Friday, the Parepare Police arrested four people for their alleged involvement in the smuggling of 10 kg of crystal methamphetamine into the regency'€™s Nusantara Port. The illegal substance, with a street value of Rp 12 billion (US$876,000), is alleged to have been smuggled from Malaysia into Indonesia via Nunukan, North Kalimantan, before being transported on board the KM Thalia motor boat to Parepare.

One of the suspects, identified as H, is thought to have been responsible for overseeing the shipment, while the three others allegedly served as couriers.

Parepare Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Alan Gerrit Abast said that H claimed that he had planned to deliver the crystal methamphetamine, found wrapped in 10 plastic packages and put inside gunnysacks, to a drug dealer in the neighboring Sidenreng Rappang (Sidrap) regency, located 60 kilometers east of the port.

'€œWe have learned that this drug dealer has been operating here for quite a long time,'€ he said on Sunday, adding that H also claimed that he had previously arranged two successful drug shipments for the dealer via Nusantara Port.

Alan, meanwhile, admitted that the lack of security at the province'€™s second largest port might provide drug traffickers with the opportunity to smuggle contraband into the region, but added that the South Sulawesi Police would soon deploy its K9 unit at the port to help local police step up security measures.

'€œSecurity checks at the port are carried out manually, making it difficult for local law enforcers to perform a quick and thorough search,'€ Alan said.

Earlier, on Feb. 1, the Makassar Police also intercepted the delivery of 1 kg of crystal methamphetamine, alledgedly sent to the provincial capital from East Kalimantan using a logistics company service. Makassar Police arrested the man who arrived to collect the package from the company'€™s local office.

Makassar Police chief Sr. Comr. Rusdi Hartono said the drug, disguised as instant cake products, had been allegedly smuggled from Malaysia into East Kalimantan before being sent to Sulawesi.

'€œThis is clearly the work of an international drug syndicate,'€ he said, adding that the police intelligence unit had begun to gather evidence about possible delivery of illicit drugs from Malaysia last month.

The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) estimated that there are more than 5 million drug users in Indonesia, making it the biggest market for narcotics in Asia. The majority of the drug users are thought to be located in Java, the country'€™s most populated island.

South Sulawesi, home to more than 8 million people, is the most populated region in the eastern part of Indonesia, making it a potential alternative market for illegal drug distribution.

In May last year, the Pinrang District Court in South Sulawesi sentenced Amir alias Dawang, 45, and his wife Maemunah, 43, to death for selling drugs.

BNN arrested the couple in their house in Marawi village, Tiroang district, Pinrang regency in September 2014, confiscating 6.8 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine.

The sentences were heavier than had been sought by prosecutors, who had asked the court to sentence Ilham and Maemunah to 20 and 15 years in prison, respectively.

The court also sentenced 21-year-old Ilham, another defendant in the case, to life, as he helped to transport drugs for the couple.