Timor-Leste has no extradition agreement with Indonesia.

Extradition in international law is the removal of one fugitive from one state to another under a prearranged agreement.

"We are trying our best to save both of our citizens but if they are saved then it becomes a miracle because Indonesian  law and East Timorese Law are very different," Carceres said Wednesday.

Cárceres confirmed Timor-Leste authorities were putting diplomatic pressure on Indonesia but warned Indonesia authorities had firm zero-tolerance for trafficking.

He said the Timorese couple were detained and found in possession of drugs in Indonesia, therefore their crime was in violation of Indonesian law.

"Everything must go according to existing procedures because we cannot force Indonesia to follow our wishes," he said.

"At present the Timor-Leste Government is only using diplomacy, but we are not forcing Indonesia to bring the two drug smugglers back home to Timor-Leste,” he said.

 “In cases like this we must be patient,” he said. He then added that Timorese authorities were being “sensitive” not to aggravate the couple’s situation.

He said the Timorese public prosecutor was continually monitoring the couple’s situation.

Legal sources have revealed that the drugs allegedly found with the couple had originated in an African country and had transited to Timor-Leste through the Philippines.

Indonesia has not executed anyone since 2016, but a number of foreigners are still on death row including a cocaine-smuggling British grandmother and Serge Atlaoui, a Frenchman who has been on death row since 2007.

A date for the couple’s trial has been set for next week.