Paulina Quintao – The Decolores Del Amor Foundation has urged the government to establish an independent national drugs council to address the issue of drugs within the nation.

Foundation member Xisto Goncalves said the state had an obligation to create an institution to combat drugs which threatened Timor-Leste's development. Goncalves called on Parliament to approve anti-drug laws immediately in order to ratify the proposed council.

If Timor-Leste failed to deal with the problem now, the nation was at risk of becoming not just a drug trafficking hub but would also face problems with domestic drug use. High unemployment rates meant young people were at high risk of becoming drug addicted.

"Drug traffickers do currently operate in Timor-Leste and the courts have prosecuted drugs cases in the past few years," Goncalves said.

Member of Parliament Antoninho Bianco said a national drugs council was unnecessary and instead called for tighter border control.

"We shouldn't focus on established more institutions but instead strengthen our existing services and provide them with detection equipment so they can work more effectively," he said.

He said many state institutions that have been established but it did not work properly however forward it did not close the chance to create this institution, if there was complete human resource preparation and equipment.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/news/13022-calls-for-national-drugs-council