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1st Int. Transborder Conf. of the Timor Island: Timor %u2013 Science without borderDili, 7-8 May 2025159State Responsibility in Combating Transnational Crime at the Indonesia%u2013Timor-Leste Border: A Juridical Analysis under International and National Criminal LawAlexsander F. Tungga1* and Dhesy A. Kase21Faculty of Law, Universitas Persatuan Guru 1945 Nusa Tenggara Timur, Kupang, Indonesia2Faculty of Law, Universitas Nusa Cendana, Jl. Adisucipto, Kupang, NTT 85001, Indonesia*Corresponding author: lexylawyer889@gmail.comAbstractThis article explored the dynamics of transnational crime in the border region between Indonesia and Timor-Leste, with a particular focus on the absence of an extradition treaty as a key factor hindering effective law enforcement against perpetrators who flee across national jurisdictions. Utilizing a normative-juridical approach supported by case studies%u2014specifically homicide cases in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), where suspects escaped to Timor-Leste and evaded prosecution%u2014the study highlights the legal and operational challenges stemming from the lack of formal extradition mechanisms. The theoretical framework draws on three key perspectives: the principle of aut dedere aut judicare in international law, which outlines a state's obligation to prosecute or extradite; border criminology, which conceptualizes border areas as socially complex zones not fully governed by state legal authority; and a comparative analysis of the Indonesian and Timor-Leste criminal justice systems, which exposes disparities in jurisdictional reach, institutional structures, and enforcement capacity. The legal disharmony and absence of bilateral cooperation%u2014particularly in the form of an extradition treaty%u2014have created a gap that fosters impunity for transnational offenders. In response, this article advocates for concrete diplomatic initiatives and legislative reforms aimed at establishing a formal extradition agreement, enhancing cross-border coordination, and developing integrated mechanisms for law enforcement in the border region. Ultimately, it proposes practical and equitable legal solutions to promote justice and security for both states and the communities residing along the Indonesia%u2013Timor-Leste border.Keywords: extradition, transnational crime, international criminal law, national criminal law, state responsibility.