The Indonesian government will beef up sea security on the borders with Singapore to enforce a ministerial decree banning the export of sand, according to local media on Saturday.

The security measures will involve the Navy, the customs office and the police.

The trade ministerial ban was issued on Jan. 22 and will come into effect on Feb. 6, reported English daily The Jakarta Post.

"The Navy, customs and police will tighten security in sea border areas between Indonesia and Singapore once the decree is in effect, preventing sand being smuggled out of the country," Chief Executive of the Maritime Security Coordinating Board, Vice Admiral Djoko Sumaryono, was quoted as saying.

Most of the sand export from Riau province has been delivered to the neighboring Singapore.

Djoko said the government would take strong action against those smuggling Indonesian sand overseas, and ordered security personnel to be on high alert.

"The serious environmental damage caused by sand mining is the main reason why Indonesia is stopping sand exports," said Djoko.

Source: Xinhua